Which part of the body metabolizes alcohol?

The liver is the primary organ responsible for metabolizing alcohol in the body. When alcohol enters the bloodstream, it is transported to the liver, where enzymes break it down into less toxic substances. The liver cells convert alcohol through a series of chemical reactions, mainly using the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase, which ultimately transforms it into acetaldehyde and then further into acetic acid before it can be safely eliminated from the body.

While other organs, such as the lungs, play a role in the expulsion of alcohol from the body through breath, they do not metabolize alcohol like the liver does. The kidneys are primarily involved in filtering blood and waste products, rather than processing alcohol specifically. Similarly, the heart circulates blood but does not metabolize substances directly. Understanding the liver's function in alcohol metabolism is crucial, especially in discussions about intoxication and its effects on the body.