09-11-2007, 10:04 PM

Hello all, I was wondering if any one out there knew any information on this topic. I tired searching the net for info on this topic, but the only thing I could find did not seem very reliable. Anyway, I know since I started drinking that my tolerance has increased from the first time until now, about the 5000th time. Anyway, my roomate got a DUI and said that in his classes he learned that tolerance, once gained, is never lost. I was just wondering how true that statement is because I always here people saying "oh i havent drank in a month, im gonna get drunk so fast." Anyone know? discuss?

09-11-2007, 10:31 PM

Tolerance is essentially your body adjusting to a foreign chemical introduced to your body. The more you have it, the higher the threshold becomes for you to feel its intended affect. Think of cigarette smokers needing to smoke more often to get the same "high" they got when they first started smoking.

If you build up a tolerance to alcohol, and then stop drinking for a couple of months, your body's tolerance will go back down. Granted, it may not go back to your pre-alcohol days for quite some time, but the point is that it does go down.

09-11-2007, 10:40 PM

Originally Posted by ste6168

my roomate got a DUI and said that in his classes he learned that tolerance, once gained, is never lost.

That has got to be the single most inane statement I have ever heard. And to find out that they are saying it in a class for DUI offenders is even stupider. Why they would even think to mention or promote that idea of "increased tolerance" to people who have obviously exceeded any tolerance level they had is beyond me.
I can see at least a small number of repeat offenders coming from that class now because the very program that was intended to steer them away from the thought of driving drunk will only "challenge" them to attempt to raise their tolerance. Then they will think that they can drink more and still drive and somehow see it as being safer because of increased tolerance.

09-11-2007, 10:48 PM

Oh yea, mine went down significantly after college. I went from drinking heavily (8-10 shots) one night a week to once a month. Granted I lost weight from not eating college food all day but I could drink that much and still be decent but once I graduated and drank less, I was blacking out or atleast puking it back up at around 5 shots.
Not that it bothers me, I don't mind spending less on alcohol nor do I mind puking when drunk, I prefer it actually. I enjoy being drunk after I puke. lol
But, yea, I agree, that class sounds like a bad idea. Not that drunk driving is an intelligent idea and am glad to say I never have.
-Peace

09-11-2007, 10:51 PM

8 shots and you were puking? Dude, that's just sad

09-11-2007, 10:57 PM

Originally Posted by Kash

8 shots and you were puking? Dude, that's just sad

I assume you are being Mr. Sarcasim. 8 shots was nothing in college. But I was about 155lbs then. When I stopped drinking at was at 135lbs, 5 was too many. I used to laugh at the lightweights, now I am one of them.
-Peace

09-11-2007, 11:01 PM

Oh, I thought you meant you would start puking at 8-10 shots. Then again, I have a bunch of friends who pass out around that number, which makes me lonely since I can keep going till 15 or 16 (I've actually never tried going above, I should see how far I can go before passing out)

09-11-2007, 11:09 PM

Originally Posted by Kash

Oh, I thought you meant you would start puking at 8-10 shots. Then again, I have a bunch of friends who pass out around that number, which makes me lonely since I can keep going till 15 or 16 (I've actually never tried going above, I should see how far I can go before passing out)

Kash... lets go for it bro. I'll be in NYC/NJ first weekend of October to Celebrate my 25th B-day... Let me just say there will be a lot of Drinking

BUT I won't be driving... thats what a Cab is there for

I myself have a very high alcohol tolerance. I always said its because I am a big guy, but even after I lost a 100 Ib I had the same tolerance. I usually won't even get a good buzz till may be the 8th Drink, and my drink is usually a big mix of (you guessed right!) Captain and Coke.

09-12-2007, 12:29 AM

Originally Posted by D3v1L80Y

That has got to be the single most inane statement I have ever heard. And to find out that they are saying it in a class for DUI offenders is even stupider. Why they would even think to mention or promote that idea of "increased tolerance" to people who have obviously exceeded any tolerance level they had is beyond me.
I can see at least a small number of repeat offenders coming from that class now because the very program that was intended to steer them away from the thought of driving drunk will only "challenge" them to attempt to raise their tolerance. Then they will think that they can drink more and still drive and somehow see it as being safer because of increased tolerance.

See, this was a class of mostly younger people (he was actually only 20 when he got it, if he would have been 21 he would have been fine) and I think this statement was sort of meant to scare kids away from drinking alot at a young age. That is one of the reasons I thought it was real. eh, at least you can lose tollerance eventually! Good news.

Anyway, unfortunately college has ruined me. Before college, in my illegal days i could drink a 6pack and be crushed, now i could drink 13-15 beers in a few hours and be fine (not to drive, but still carry on a conversation). I would say to get to the point of not remebering the night I would have to drink 20+ beers. Which sucks...

09-12-2007, 12:32 AM

Tolerance is essentially your body adjusting to a foreign chemical introduced to your body. The more you have it, the higher the threshold becomes for you to feel its intended affect. Think of cigarette smokers needing to smoke more often to get the same "high" they got when they first started smoking.

If you build up a tolerance to alcohol, and then stop drinking for a couple of months, your body's tolerance will go back down. Granted, it may not go back to your pre-alcohol days for quite some time, but the point is that it does go down.

This is the best definition for tolerance that I have seen, good job Kash. Your buddy got a DUI because his blood alcohol level was above the legal limit to be driving. Tolerance is not a factor in this, you can have a low tolerance be below the legal limit in blood alcohol content but you may feel drunk. Same for for the opposite, he may not of felt drunk because he has a high tolerance but his blood alcohol content was above the legal limit. If you want more info let me know, I have had to take all kinds of classes about DUI enforcement as a police officer.

09-12-2007, 12:34 AM

Originally Posted by ste6168

See, this was a class of mostly younger people

That just makes it even MORE idiotic. Younger people are statistically more likely to test their tolerance levels and try to raise it.
Telling them that their tolerance levels will never go down is a completely irresponsible thing to do. It implies that tolerance will only go up, thereby allowing them to drink even more and still be 'safe'.
Sounds like those teaching the course need to be taught a few things themselves.

09-12-2007, 12:46 AM

Originally Posted by babarnette

This is the best definition for tolerance that I have seen, good job Kash. Your buddy got a DUI because his blood alcohol level was above the legal limit to be driving. Tolerance is not a factor in this, you can have a low tolerance be below the legal limit in blood alcohol content but you may feel drunk. Same for for the opposite, he may not of felt drunk because he has a high tolerance but his blood alcohol content was above the legal limit. If you want more info let me know, I have had to take all kinds of classes about DUI enforcement as a police officer.

Yes, I understand that, but I was just saying that during college parties always saying that they havent drank in __(insert any amount of time) so they got so drunk so fast, but after taking classes, my roomate said that this saying is irrelevant and its just people saying that because they told him that once tolerance is gained, it will never go away... (yes, maybe not the smartest thing to tell younger people as has already been established), but what I was trying to find out was if thats a true statement or a lie.

09-12-2007, 03:50 AM

Personal experience: I used to be able to drink a fifth and a half of vodka in High School, joined the military after 9 weeks of basic training I could only handle about 6 shots of vodka so yes my tolerance went down. Now I drink Hennessy and cokes, and don't get buzzed until the 10th drink so my tolerance has increased. So to answer the question, your tolerance to alcohol will go up or down based on how many times you drink in a set time

09-12-2007, 05:18 AM

Originally Posted by ste6168

Yes, I understand that, but I was just saying that during college parties always saying that they havent drank in __(insert any amount of time) so they got so drunk so fast, but after taking classes, my roomate said that this saying is irrelevant and its just people saying that because they told him that once tolerance is gained, it will never go away... (yes, maybe not the smartest thing to tell younger people as has already been established), but what I was trying to find out was if thats a true statement or a lie.

This is just my opinion but I think that your tolerence will fluctuate some if you do not do something in a while. As for how much it would fluctuate I guess it just depends on the person. Of course some of this may be mental, if you think you are going to get drunk quicker and off less alcohol you may very well trick yourself into acting and feeling more drunk.

09-12-2007, 05:24 AM

Originally Posted by Kash

Oh, I thought you meant you would start puking at 8-10 shots. Then again, I have a bunch of friends who pass out around that number, which makes me lonely since I can keep going till 15 or 16 (I've actually never tried going above, I should see how far I can go before passing out)

Ah that might be a bad idea, alcohol poisoning is no fun.