Final answer:
Alcohol tolerance occurs when increased amounts of alcohol are needed to feel its effects due to changes in the brain's reward circuitry. Stopping alcohol intake can lead to withdrawal symptoms due to the body's adaptations to prolonged alcohol exposure.
Step-by-step explanation:
A tolerance for alcohol develops when an individual needs to consume increasing amounts of alcohol to experience its effects. This is a biological process where chronic exposure leads to compensatory adaptations in the brain's reward circuitry. Such tolerance is closely related to the development of alcohol-related behaviors. Risk factors for increased alcohol tolerance include engaging in environments with prevalent heavy drinking and having an impulsive personality.
When alcohol consumption is stopped, withdrawal symptoms like tremors, seizures, and confusion may occur due to the brain's adjustments to prolonged exposure being suddenly unmet. The abuse potential of central nervous system depressants like alcohol is relatively high due to the physical and psychological dependencies they can create.
The blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is a measure legally used to define intoxication, varies for each individual, and can be affected by factors such as age, sex, and health condition. It's important to note that regular consumption of alcohol should be done in moderation and only by adults of legal drinking age to prevent the occurrence of adverse effects, ranging from impaired motor control and decision-making to more severe consequences such as coma or death.