Low Alcohol Tolerance VS. Alcohol Sensitivity: What’s The Difference?

Alcohol sensitivity and alcohol tolerance are two different things, even though people often confuse them. Alcohol sensitivity means someone’s body rejects or reacts badly to alcohol, causing immediate negative effects like flushing, nausea, headaches, or stomach problems. Genetics play a role in alcohol sensitivity, but medications can also affect how someone’s body responds to alcohol. Some medications, like anti-anxiety drugs, can lower a person’s sensitivity to alcohol.

Alcohol tolerance is the opposite. It’s when someone’s body gets used to alcohol over time and needs more of it to feel the same effects. While sensitivity is an immediate reaction the first time someone drinks or every time they drink, alcohol tolerance develops gradually with repeated use. Knowing the difference between these two conditions is important for recognizing how alcohol affects your body and making safe choices about drinking.

What Is A Low Alcohol Tolerance?

Almost everybody is born with low alcohol tolerance. This is because ethanol is technically a poison, which is why each time the liver sifts through ethanol, some of its cells are destroyed. People used to consuming large amounts of alcohol on a regular basis will most often develop high alcohol tolerance, with the inverse being true for those who do not drink often.

Is It Good To Have A Low Alcohol Tolerance?

It is always better to have a low tolerance to alcoholic drinks than it is to have a high alcohol tolerance. The more heavy drinking you participate in, the higher your chances are to develop alcohol dependence. And a high tolerance can mean you drink more, particularly to get the same effects of alcohol that you’re used to. Alcohol dependence can lead to a number of risks and damage, including permanent liver damage, addiction, and possibly fatal health complications.

The Difference Between Alcohol Tolerance And Alcohol Sensitivity

Low alcohol tolerance is likely if a person has never had alcohol or has not had enough to build up a chemical resistance to the presence of alcohol. Alcohol sensitivity can exist for a number of reasons. Firstly, some people have a genetic or metabolic inability to process alcohol, the reason for this is not precisely documented. Additionally, medications can cause extreme sensitivity to alcohol’s effects, especially those used to treat anxiety and even attention deficit disorder (ADD). Some people may also have acute alcohol sensitivity, meaning that they experience painful or extremely unpleasant bodily reactions even after just one drink, sometimes less.

Factors That Influence Alcohol Tolerance Levels

Drinking habits greatly affect the level of tolerance in any given person. For instance, if you drank five beers, one beer per night, five days per week, you would have a lesser tolerance compared to someone drinking five beers in one night, once per week. The person with a higher tolerance has had more of a chance to build up a resistance to alcohol since five beers would constitute a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) over 0.08%.

Additionally, body weight greatly affects alcohol tolerance, as the heavier you weigh the more time the body has to process the alcohol before it enters the bloodstream. A person weighing 150 pounds will have a more intoxicating experience from the same amount of alcohol compared to somebody weighing 250 pounds.

The Metabolic Tolerance Process

Gender also plays a role in the metabolic tolerance process. Men and women process alcohol at different speeds due to an overabundance of the enzyme that deconstructs ethanol in men, and a deficiency of that enzyme in women. This enzyme is called alcohol dehydrogenase. Alongside another liver enzyme called aldehyde dehydrogenase, the two help the liver to filter ethanol out of the ingested beverage before it can enter the bloodstream. Since men have more of this enzyme, they process alcohol faster, meaning they have a naturally heightened tolerance to alcohol.

Ethnicity Differences

Ethnicity can be a factor in tolerance levels. According to the Genetic and Rare Disease Information Center (GARD), the inability to process alcohol at the same rate as other ethnicities is most often found in East Asia. For reasons yet unknown, Asian demographics have a slightly altered DNA sequence which increases sensitivity to alcohol.

Dangers Of Low Alcohol Tolerance In People With Alcohol Use Disorder

People with alcohol use disorder and low alcohol tolerance face serious health risks. Because their bodies cannot process alcohol efficiently, they may drink larger amounts trying to achieve the desired effect, which can lead to dangerous consequences.

Health Risks of Low Alcohol Tolerance:

• alcohol poisoning and toxicity from drinking too much too quickly
• overdose and potential death from excessive alcohol consumption
• liver damage and cirrhosis from repeated heavy drinking
• dehydration and electrolyte imbalances
• brain damage and cognitive impairment
• increased risk of accidents and injuries
• weakened immune system
• heart problems and high blood pressure
• severe withdrawal symptoms when trying to quit

Low alcohol tolerance combined with alcohol use disorder creates a dangerous cycle. People may continue drinking heavily to chase the effects they want, not realizing how much damage they’re doing to their bodies. The liver, brain, and heart are especially vulnerable to damage from excessive alcohol use. Without professional help and treatment, this pattern can lead to serious health complications and even death.

Treatment Options For Alcohol Use Disorder

Fortunately, there are a number of treatment programs available to treat alcohol use disorders. Below are some of the most common treatment services available for people facing alcohol addiction.

Treatment services and methods may include:

• inpatient and outpatient treatment
• medical detox
• residential treatment
• dual diagnosis treatment
• cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
• 12-step recovery groups
• supervised drug screenings
• mental health services
• therapy and counseling

If you or someone you know has alcohol use disorder, seeking treatment from a medical professional or rehab center is critical to preventing these dangerous outcomes and beginning the path to recovery.

Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff