How does the body expel alcohol?

The body expels alcohol through multiple avenues, which is why the choice indicating breath, perspiration, and tears is accurate. When alcohol is consumed, it is metabolized mainly in the liver, but not all of it is processed there.

Approximately 90-95% of alcohol is metabolized by the liver, but the remaining portion is eliminated through various bodily fluids. Breath is one of the key routes; when a person exhales, alcohol vapor can be present in the breath, which is significant for breathalyzer tests used by law enforcement to determine blood alcohol concentration (BAC).

Additionally, alcohol can be secreted through the skin in sweat and can also be found in small amounts in tears and saliva. This multi-pathway elimination process illustrates how the body actively works to rid itself of alcohol after consumption. Understanding this helps clarify the biological aspects of alcohol metabolism and the various ways it can be detected in the body.