How Long Does a Glass of Wine Stay in Your System?

How much will “just one glass” affect you?

Let’s start with the basics: alcohol, as a whole, is a depressant that typically has a short life span in the body. One type of alcohol (wine) is most known for being extremely diverse in flavors and effects, being beneficial for health, and proving helpful for various individuals.

But of course, like other kinds of alcohol, wine can impact your body & brain in various ways. It can even start affecting you after one glass.

So how long does it take for this glass to leave your system?

What Happens To Your Body When You Drink

Long story short – alcohol passes through the blood when consumed and is broken down by the liver. Here’s the journey that a glass will usually take through the system:

Wine enters the digestive system
80% of the alcohol enters the small intestine → heads into the bloodstream
20% enters the blood vessels → goes to the brain
The liver filters blood and breaks down alcohol from the digestive tract

This is typical for all kinds of alcohol, but wine has its own unique effects.

Alcohol Content in Wine

Glasses of wine, along with other alcohols, can be broken into units. Here’s how it works:

1 unit = 8 grams of alcohol
1 small glass of red wine = 1.5 units

The size of your glass may contribute to the number of units; and the number of units you drink correlates with your blood alcohol content (BAC).

It’s also important to note that every kind of wine can affect your body differently. There are dozens of grape varieties, hundreds of wine varietals, and countless brands available. Check the alcohol content on the label of a bottle of wine to determine how high the percentage is.

How One Glass Can Affect People Differently

Everyone’s body metabolizes alcohol at different rates. Some people can feel fuzzy in the head after one glass of wine, while others feel perfectly normal. This has to do with several factors, including:

The person’s age
Weight
Amount of food eaten
If the person takes medication

So as you can see, it varies for everyone; but on average, one glass of wine will stay in a person’s body for the same average amount of time.

How Long Does It Stay In Your Body?

On average, most people can break down a half of a drink every 30 minutes. A large glass of wine takes about 3 hours to completely metabolize, whereas some drinks can take as long as 6.

Another thing to consider is how long alcohol use (wine or otherwise) can be detected. Consumption can be noticeable for up to 12-24 in breath/saliva or urine, and up to 90 days in hair particles.

The Chance of A Hangover

Wine hangovers are very possible, but rare if you only drink one glass. Regardless, be sure to drink water after your wine and avoid caffeine if possible.

Drinking Responsibly

When your BAC (blood alcohol content) reaches 0.08%, you are no longer supposed to operate a vehicle by law. By keeping track of your units, you’ll be able to determine how high your BAC is after one glass of wine.

And remember, always eat food and drink water after consuming wine to avoid feeling other negative effects or getting dehydrated.

If you have any questions about how wine affects the body, contact our team of rehabilitation professionals. Call 866-488-8349 today.