Final answer:
True, the average rate of elimination of alcohol from a body is around 0.015 mg/ml/hr, equating to roughly one standard drink per hour, with variations depending on individual factors and gender. It takes time for the liver to metabolize alcohol, and the legal intoxication limit typically aligns with a BAC of 0.08.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the average rate of elimination of alcohol from a body is approximately 0.015 mg/ml/hr or one standard drink per hour is generally considered true. The process by which alcohol is metabolized in the body involves a series of reactions, beginning with the conversion of ethanol to acetaldehyde. Individual metabolism rates can vary, and women often metabolize alcohol more slowly than men. One standard drink may be metabolized in about one hour for the average individual, but this can be influenced by a variety of factors including body size, gender, and the amount of alcohol dehydrogenase in the liver.
It is important to note that the legal limit for intoxication often corresponds with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08. Considering the metabolism rate, it would take at least five hours for a person at this level of intoxication to sober up. Moreover, the rate of alcohol metabolism is constant and does not increase with greater alcohol consumption due to the finite amount of metabolic enzymes present in the liver.