Clinical research scientist shows shocking amount of time alcohol stays in different areas of your system
We are officially mere weeks away from summer, which means that beer gardens up and down the country will be rammed the second a ray of sunshine makes its way through the clouds.
Ah, the beauties of a British summer.
But with more reason to go out for a bev or two with your mates comes a number of considerations you may want to take.
There are some long-term health factors that are worth thinking about when it comes to excessive drinking, while there are also some short-term effects that come with sinking a shot too many - namely, a banging head.
Advert
Official advice from the NHS advises men and women against drinking more than 14 units of alcohol in a week 'on a regular basis'.
For reference, a unit of alcohol equates to 10ml of pure alcohol, which is around half a pint of beer/cider or a single shot (25ml) measure of spirits.
The health body advises that if you do drink around 14 units a week, you should spread it over three days or more to try to avoid any major health risks.
But the reality is, even one heavy session could leave you with some after-effects.
We're not talking about hangovers either, but rather how long alcohol can linger in different parts of your body after your session is finished.
Clinical research scientist Anant Agarwal has post a video to subscribers explaining how long the substance can linger in the body for.
Explaining it all in a short YouTube video, he began: "First is your breath, it can stay in your breath for up to 24 hours - especially if you've been drinking excessively."
In all fairness, waking up the next morning with the taste of alcohol on your tongue might be up there with some of the worst experiences ever.
The scientist then warned you 'cannot cheat' a breathalyser after drinking, in what was a warning not to drink and drive.
He moved on, mentioning that alcohol also lingers in urine, claiming: "In urine, alcohol can last for up to 14 days, if you've been drinking excessively," though it should be noted that other health experts, such as those at Cleveland Clinic, estimate it to be up to four or five days.
Moving on to the 'biggest shocker', the scientist went on: "It can stay in your hair for up to 90 days."
The claim has been confirmed by several other medical professionals, with AlphaBiolabs, a leading UK laboratory that offers DNA, drug, and alcohol testing, confirming that 'alcohol hair testing' is a way to look into someone's drinking habits.
It explains that 90 percent of alcohol consumed is broken down in the liver, with the rest being passed out in sweat, urine and exhaled breath.
It is further explained on the website that the amount of time it is detectable in hair depends on the length of hair used for testing and when the alcohol was consumed.
However, it could be detected in a hair sample for up to six months, according to the Society of Hair Testing (SoHT).
Joshua Nair