The amount of time alcohol stays in urine will depend on how fast it’s absorbed and metabolized in the body. This can depend on a variety of personal, biological, and genetic factors.
Detecting Alcohol In Urine
After drinking, alcohol will generally remain in urine for 10 to 12 hours on average. If you take a drug test capable of screening for alcohol metabolites, this can detect alcohol use for up to 48 hours.
What Factors Can Affect Alcohol Detection In Urine?
Not all bodies absorb or metabolize alcohol at the same rate. Using multiple drugs at once, being a heavy drinker, or being of older age can affect how long alcohol will stay in the body.
Primary factors that can affect how long alcohol stays in urine:
- amount of alcohol consumed
- how often you drink
- alcohol dependence
- liver and kidney function
- overall health
- metabolic rate
Eating food before or while you’re drinking can affect alcohol absorption. This is also true for drinking water.
Find Alcohol Detox Near You
Alcohol detox programs offer the safest and most effective way to get alcohol out of your system if you’re unable to stop drinking by yourself.
Alcohol detox programs can offer:
- medicine for withdrawal symptoms
- medical supervision
- fluids to help you stay hydrated
- care coordination for further treatment
After detox, treatment in a full alcohol rehab program may be recommended.
If you need help detoxing from alcohol, we may be able to help. Call our helpline today to find an alcohol treatment program that’s right for you.
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- Redwood Toxicology Laboratory—Laboratory Testing Reference Guide
https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/Programs/CIP/events/redwood/LAB_Reference_Guide.pdf - U.S. National Library of Medicine: NCBI—Ethyl glucuronide in hair and fingernails as a long-term alcohol biomarker
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24524319/
