Final answer:
Alcohol is primarily metabolized in the liver. Excessive alcohol consumption can have serious long-term effects on the excretory system, including the liver and kidneys.
Step-by-step explanation:
Alcohol is primarily metabolized in the liver.
The liver is responsible for breaking down alcohol through a series of steps, involving various liver enzymes, into carbon dioxide and water. It is estimated that the liver metabolizes up to 85-98% of the alcohol in the bloodstream.
Excessive alcohol consumption can have serious long-term effects on the excretory system, including the liver and kidneys. Chronic alcohol consumption can impair kidney function and disrupt water and ion balance, leading to abnormalities in blood ion concentration and acid-base balance.