Which statement about age and BAC is true?

Which statement about age and BAC is true?

• A. Older people tend to have higher BAC levels.
• B. Older people tend to have lower BAC levels.
• C. Age has no effect on BAC.
• D. Only with certain drinks does age affect BAC.

Answer: (A)

Age-related changes in body composition and metabolism influence how alcohol is distributed and cleared. As people age, total body water tends to decrease and body fat increases, so the same amount of alcohol becomes more concentrated in the blood, producing a higher BAC. Liver metabolism of alcohol can also slow with age, and medications or illnesses common in older adults can interact with alcohol, raising impairment risk. Because of these factors, older people typically reach higher BAC levels after the same amount of drinking. So the true statement is that older people tend to have higher BAC levels. The idea that age has no effect is inaccurate, and the notion that age affects BAC only with certain drinks isn’t supported by this general pattern—the aging effect applies broadly to alcohol consumption.

Age-related changes in body composition and metabolism influence how alcohol is distributed and cleared. As people age, total body water tends to decrease and body fat increases, so the same amount of alcohol becomes more concentrated in the blood, producing a higher BAC. Liver metabolism of alcohol can also slow with age, and medications or illnesses common in older adults can interact with alcohol, raising impairment risk. Because of these factors, older people typically reach higher BAC levels after the same amount of drinking. So the true statement is that older people tend to have higher BAC levels. The idea that age has no effect is inaccurate, and the notion that age affects BAC only with certain drinks isn’t supported by this general pattern—the aging effect applies broadly to alcohol consumption.