Final answer:
Alcohol consumption affects the brain by altering sensory perceptions, judgment, and motor skills, leading to potential long-term damage to the excretory system with heavy use.
Step-by-step explanation:
Consumption of alcohol can lead to various changes in the brain, impacting an individual's sensory perception, judgment, and coordination. Alcohol intoxication begins with euphoria and can progress to sedation, decreased reaction time, impaired visual acuity, and reduced behavioral control. As the amount of alcohol increases, so does the severity of its effects, potentially causing ataxia, memory loss, and even coma in extreme cases.
Moreover, excessive alcohol consumption can have detrimental effects on the excretory system, particularly the liver and kidneys. These organs play a critical role in removing waste from the body, and impairment through heavy drinking can lead to serious health consequences like liver and kidney disease, blood ion concentration irregularities, and acid-base balance disturbances.
The immediate effect of alcohol varies based on an individual's blood alcohol concentration (BAC), which can be influenced by factors such as age, gender, health conditions, and the rate of alcohol metabolism in the body. Even legal definitions of intoxication consider varying levels of BAC, which can be measured through blood or breath testing.