Of all the drugs, alcohol is the only drug whose self-induced intoxication is socially acceptable. Alcohol is rapidly absorbed from the stomach and small intestine. The presence of food in the stomach inhibits the absorption of alcohol because of dilution. Alcohol has a marked effect on the central system. Alcohol produces psychic dependence of varying degrees from mild to strong.
Physical dependence develops slowly.
At a level of 0.05 percent alcohol in the blood, thought, judgement and restraint are loosened and sometimes disrupted. At a concentration of 0.1 p.c., voluntary motor action usually becomes perceptibly clumsy. In most states, legal intoxication ranges from 0.1 to 0.15 percent blood alcohol level. At 0.3 percent a person is commonly confused or may be come stuporous. At 0.4 to 0.5 percent a person is in a coma.