You probably know someone who’s a “lightweight” and someone who’s a “heavyweight” when it comes to drinking. However, the idea of alcohol tolerance isn’t generally all that well understood. Therefore, it’s helpful to get a bit more info as to why some people can seem to handle more drinks than others…
Alcohol Tolerance: Watch Your Limit
What influences tolerance
Alcohol tolerance can be influenced by a couple of things. Some people are naturally able to drink more than others can before reaching their limit. While the exact reasoning isn’t well known yet, it appears that these people have some kind of “inherent” tolerance. Interestingly, these people tend to also develop alcohol problems more frequently.
For others, it comes down to how frequently they drink. The more they drink, the more their brain becomes used to the experience. Eventually, the brain develops a way to lessen the felt impact of the alcohol, making it appear like it’s not really doing much.
Tolerance vs dependence
Having an alcohol tolerance doesn’t mean one also has a dependency. After all, it could just be that their genes that lead to their ability to drink more heavily without the same effect. Still, if one isn’t careful, you could find yourself developing a dependency.
Just because they don’t “feel” the alcohol as strongly doesn’t make it safer. Nor does this mean they should drink more than is standard. A person with a high tolerance can still experience alcohol poisoning and other negative health consequences from drinking too much.
Finding balance
Alcohol tolerance can both rise and lower. It mainly depends on a person’s drinking habits. If you take a break from drinking for a while, then you might notice that it doesn’t take nearly as many drinks to reach the same result. But, if you drink a lot, you might find your tolerance rising.
A good comparison to make is to bike riding. If you haven’t rode for a while, then it’ll take you a moment to get back to it. But, it’ll be easier than your first time. This same kind of idea applies here. You might not drink as much to reach the same result, but it’s worth accepting that this isn’t a bad thing by any means.
