Final answer:
Upon death, the body's metabolic processes, including alcohol metabolism, cease. The blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at the time of death remains constant, and no further metabolism of alcohol occurs, reflecting the level of intoxication prior to death.
Step-by-step explanation:
Effect of Alcohol on Blood After Death
Upon death, alcohol metabolism in the blood ceases because the liver, which is responsible for metabolizing up to 98% of ingested ethanol, is no longer functioning. The blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at the time of death remains constant and might reflect the level of intoxication prior to death. However, any metabolic reactions, including the conversion from ethanol to acetaldehyde, also stop.
The earlier effects of alcohol, such as euphoria, sedation, or impairment of skills and judgment (depending on BAC level), halt as all biological processes end. In legal contexts, such as postmortem investigations, the BAC can still be measured to assess the level of alcohol intoxication at the time of death, which can be determined through blood or breath testing using devices like the Breathalyzer.