The liver plays a major role in the body's oxidation of alcohol. When alcohol enters the liver, some of it is changed to a chemical called acetaldehyde . When acetaldehyde is combined with oxygen, acetic acid is formed. When the acetic acid is further combined with oxygen, carbon dioxide and water are formed. The oxidation of alcohol produces calories.
Oxidation continues until all the alcohol has left the body.
Since the body can remove only a small amount of alcohol at a time, those who choose to drink are advised to drink slowly. The effects of alcohol on an individual depend on a variety of factors. A person who has one drink during dinner is not likely to feel the effects of alcohol. But having six drinks before and during dinner means the individual might not make it through dessert. A person weighing 220 pounds will not feel the effects of a drink as much as a person weighing 120 pounds.