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The Correlation Between Alcohol Tolerance and Intoxication

Despite common belief, just because you think you have a high tolerance for alcohol, it doesn’t mean that you will not be intoxicated under the law. Our New Jersey DUI attorneys can provide you with more information regarding the correlation between your blood alcohol content (BAC), which actually gauges your level of intoxication, and your tolerance.

How Do You Build a Tolerance for Alcohol?

There is no concrete evidence as to how alcohol tolerance develops. According to one explanation, alcohol interferes with the sodium and potassium channels in the membrane that are necessary for normal nerve cell impulses. When you constantly drink alcoholic beverages for a long time, the enzymes in charge of activating the sodium and potassium channels will over-work in order to make up for the interference of alcohol.

Yet another explanation for the development of alcohol tolerance in certain individuals is that the continuous consumption of alcohol stiffens the cell membranes as a result of the build up of saturated fat or cholesterol in the membrane.

Result of Alcohol Tolerance

Regardless of what theory is used to explain the development of alcohol tolerance, your body loses its sensitivity to the effects of alcohol and you will need a greater amount of alcohol to get the same effects as you previously did. In fact, it has been shown that alcoholics become more tolerant of alcohol at higher blood alcohol concentration level, including potentially deadly levels.

Our New Jersey DUI attorney will look at these different hypotheses in explaining the correlation between alcohol tolerance and your BAC to put together the strongest defense in your DUI case.

Contact an Experienced DUI Attorney

If you or a loved one was arrested for a DUI, you need to immediately call New Jersey DUI attorney Dan Matrafajlo at 908-248-4404 for a free consultation. We have offices in Elizabeth, North Brunswick and Newark, New Jersey to serve you. Mr. Matrafajlo has the experience in New Jersey municipal courts that you need. He has been recognized locally for his legal ability and named a Super Lawyers Rising Star by his peers. Dan has the knowledge and skill to prepare the best strategy and present the best evidence at your DUI bench trial to increase the likelihood of dismissing the DUI charges against you.

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