Why Some People Get Drunk Fast While Others Pee Nonstop (And Die Younger)

The Great Alcohol Divide: Lightweights vs. “I Can Drink All Night” People

Alcohol Tolerance Explained—Picture this: You’re at a beach bar in Canggu, sipping a Bintang. Your friend is already slurring after one cocktail, while another downs five margaritas like water—only to spend half the night running to the bathroom.

What gives?

Turns out, science splits drinkers into two camps:

1. The “One Sip and I’m Done” Crew – Face turns red, nausea hits, and they’re snoring by 9 PM.

2. The “I Never Get Drunk (But My Kidneys Hate Me)” Squad – No buzz, just endless pee breaks… and a higher chance of an early grave.

Let’s break it down—with fewer hangovers than your last party.

1. The Lightweights: Why They Can’t Handle Their Liquor

Science Says: Blame Your Genes

Some bodies treat alcohol like toxic waste—because technically, it is. When you drink:

• Your liver converts alcohol into acetaldehyde (a nasty carcinogen).

• Then, enzymes (ALDH) break that down. But 40% of East Asians (and many others) have a genetic mutation that makes ALDH sluggish.

Result: Acetaldehyde builds up → flushed face, nausea, instant KO.

Pros & Cons

• Less addiction risk (who wants to feel like death every time?).
• Higher alcohol poisoning risk if they “push through.”

Fun Fact: This is why “Asian Glow” is a real thing. If your face goes tomato-red after sake, your genes are yelling “ABORT MISSION.”

2. The “Iron Liver” Drinkers: The Silent Danger

Why They Don’t Get Drunk (But Should Worry)

These folks process alcohol scarily fast. Their livers are like:

“Ethanol? Pfft. I got this.”

But here’s the catch:

• Alcohol blocks vasopressin (the hormone that stops you from peeing nonstop).

• Result: Dehydration, electrolyte chaos, and “Why am I hungover if I wasn’t even drunk?”

The Ugly Truth

High tolerance = high consumption → 3x higher liver disease risk (The Lancet).
Dehydration strains kidneys and heart.
Silent damage: No warning signs until organs start failing.

Translation: Just because you can drink all night doesn’t mean you should.

Smart Drinking Tips for Bali’s Party Scene

1. For Lightweights:

   • Own it. Your body’s saying “no thanks.” Try mocktails—Bali’s coconut mojitos are legendary.

   • Never “keep up” with heavy drinkers.

2. For High-Tolerance Drinkers:

   • Don’t be fooled. You’re not “winning” at drinking; you’re stressing your organs.

   • Hydrate like crazy. One water per alcoholic drink.

   • Get liver check-ups. Especially if you’re over 30.

3. Everyone:

   • Stick to WHO limits (1 drink/day for women, 2 for men).

   • Eat before drinking. Nasi goreng is your friend.

— Whether you’re a “cheap date” or the “last one standing,” alcohol hits everyone differently. But here’s the kicker: Neither group is “better” at drinking. One feels awful fast; the other destroys their health quietly.

So next time you’re out in Seminyak, remember: The real flex is waking up fresh. And not peeing 10 times before sunrise.

Sources : World Health Organization (WHO),The Lancet (2018),National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA),Mayo Clinic