Final answer:
The assertion that blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) cannot rise after a person has passed out is false since alcohol continues to be absorbed after one loses consciousness. The liver metabolizes alcohol over time, and factors like gender and body weight affect this rate. Devices like the Breathalyzer measure BAC and help assess the level of intoxication.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) cannot rise after a drinker has passed out is false. Alcohol continues to be absorbed into the bloodstream even after a person loses consciousness. The absorption of alcohol does not stop immediately when drinking ceases. In fact, the BAC can continue to increase as the alcohol in the stomach and intestines continues to enter the bloodstream. Given the rate at which the liver metabolizes alcohol, approximately 3.3 mmol/L (15 mg/dL) per hour, it takes significant time for BAC to decrease after drinking has stopped.
Conditions such as acute alcohol intoxication can alter consciousness levels, leading to euphoria at low doses, sedation at higher doses, and if excessive, a complete loss of consciousness. Additionally, the rate of metabolism can vary among individuals due to factors like gender and weight, with women metabolizing alcohol more slowly than men on average.
The use of a Breathalyzer device measures the ethanol concentration in a person's breath, which reflects their BAC. The Breathalyzer reaction involves the oxidation of ethanol, causing a color change in the test solution. Understanding one's BAC and how it impacts the body is important, as driving with a BAC of 0.08% or more is illegal in most places due to impaired judgment and task performance.