Beer/Alcohol percentages

[R2B2]

So... I drank about 5 pints of beer at 3% abv on Friday night and did'nt really feel anything other than being a bit full up and fancying a cheeseburger.

Tonite I had 3 pints of beer at 5% abv and two hours later still can't spell the childlike words that make up the most part of this post, and am quite feeling the effect even after a two mile stagger home.

Why's that...? Isn't 3 x 5 the same as 5 x 3...?

 

[Pugwash]

I was drinking quad measures of bourbon with pepsi max. You spend less times taking a piss that way...

 

[DB on CBR1100XX]

OK !! LOL I'll bite !...................

So... I drank about 5 pints of beer at 3% abv on Friday night and did'nt really feel anything other than being a bit full up and fancying a cheeseburger.

Tonite I had 3 pints of beer at 5% abv and two hours later still can't spell the childlike words that make up the most part of this post, and am quite feeling the effect even after a two mile stagger home.

Why's that...? Isn't 3 x 5 the same as 5 x 3...?

................

1pt = 538ml [approx]

5*538=2690 3% of which is........ 80.7ml alcohol

3*538=1614 5% of which is......... 80.7ml alcohol

So on paper is the same but probably taken in over a shorter time in the 2nd case so probably had more in your system at one time ? Theory being, you'd take longer to get through 5 pints and would have metabolised some of ithe alcohol by the time you got to the last one. Which wouldn't be the case in the 2nd example. You'd get in all in a shorter time, get a higher blood concentration and feel the effects more. You also need water and carbohydrate to break down alcohol. 3 pints will have less water, less sugar [esp as is stronger beer: more of the sugar turns to alcohol etc etc] and you may have eaten less with it etc etc etc................ :dunno:

Any biochemists out there ?


ps. 'Course......you could have just been still pissed from the night before :neenaw:

 

[R2B2]

Good on yer DB... That all seems a reasonable explanation!

Intrestin' to read about water needed to break down the alcohol. I've always encouraged myself (and others) to drink water alongside alcohol when on a big session - but believed it to be an anti-dehydration aid, probably instilled in me when living in a hot country. Maybe it's the same thing...