Alcohol consumption, blood alcohol level and the relevance of body weight in experimental design and analysis.

In healthy male subjects, intake of alcohol is not closely related to body weight although there is a significant correlation between consumption and body weight in the younger age group. No association was observed between age and alcohol consumption. Age did show a significant association when expressed in terms of intake per weight. Eight hours after consumption blood alcohol did not vary significantly in people with different body weight; total body water is probably the key factor. This study raises doubts about experimental designs and calculations of blood alcohol whereby assumption is made that correcting alcohol dose for body weight would give precise information. Conclusions from such studies could in fact be misleading.