Can Your Alcohol Tolerance Decrease As You Age?

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Alcohol tolerance

Yes, alcohol tolerance generally decreases as you age.

Why so?

This phenomenon occurs due to several physiological and lifestyle factors:

1. Slower Metabolism

As you get older, your metabolism slows down, which means your body takes longer to process alcohol

2. Body Composition

Older adults tend to have a higher proportion of body fat and a lower proportion of body water.

3. Liver Function

Liver function can decline with age, reducing the efficiency of alcohol metabolism.

4. Frequency

If you drink less frequently as you age, your tolerance may naturally decrease.

5. Health

Age-related health issues, such as cardiovascular diseases or gastrointestinal problems, can influence how your body handles alcohol.

6. Medications

Older adults are more likely to be on medications that can interact with alcohol

These factors collectively contribute to a decreased alcohol tolerance as you age