How does age affect an individual's tolerance to alcohol?

As individuals age, various physiological changes occur in the body that can affect how alcohol is processed. One significant change is a decrease in the water content of the body, which can lead to higher blood alcohol concentrations after consuming the same amount of alcohol compared to younger individuals. Additionally, the liver's ability to metabolize alcohol generally decreases with age, resulting in longer processing times for alcohol. Consequently, elderly people often experience increased sensitivity to alcohol, meaning they may become less tolerant and more affected by the same quantities of alcohol that they might have handled well in their younger years. This diminished tolerance heightens the risk of negative effects such as impaired judgment and increased likelihood of falls or accidents.