Healthy Approach to Alcohol

Biphasic Response

The biphasic response refers to the two physiological effects that alcohol produces. The initial phase is feeling stimulated or excited, which is then followed by the depressant phase, such as feeling tired.

The positive effects of alcohol like the stimulant effects of a slight "buzz" are related to a low but rising blood alcohol level. The depressant effects are related to a high blood alcohol level that starts to fall.

Therefore, some college students think "more" alcohol is "better." Based the biphasic response to alcohol, the truth is more is not necessarily better. If their goal with alcohol is to get a slight buzz, enjoy the social setting, or enjoy the taste of the alcohol then they should keep their BAC at .05 and below.

It turns out that if a drinker wants to hold onto a good buzz then he or she should drink slowly and moderately, not exceeding a BAC of .05. The more alcohol is drunk, the more it acts like a depressant instead of a stimulant and the drinker is likely to end up with a terrible hangover or worse.

So when someone talks about being responsible with alcohol see if they kept their BAC at .05 and below. Check the BAC level by following this link: http://academic.hws.edu/alcohol/alcoholinq/BAC/BACcalc.htm