How Long Does Alcohol Stay In Your Urine?

The amount of alcohol consumed greatly affects how long alcohol stays in your urine.

If a person has been drinking excessively, drug tests that search for ethanol in urine can detect the presence of certain biomarkers and enzymes left after processing.

Ethyl glucuronide (EtG) is another type of biomarker that can be detected through novel screening methods, called EtG urine tests.

These EtG tests can detect alcohol in the system for up to 90 hours, and are generally extremely effective.

Learn more about alcohol detection methods.

Detection Time For Alcohol In Urine

Alcohol levels in urine samples can be detected from 12 to 72 hours after drinking alcohol. However, heavy drinking or binge drinking may increase this time frame up to 130 hours.

There are some types of tests that can detect certain metabolites, called phosphatidyl-ethanol (PEth), for up to 14 days after the person’s last drink.

Factors That Contribute To Alcohol Detection Time

Each person is different and processes alcohol uniquely depending on their body type, alcohol tolerance level, liver health, metabolic speed, and level of alcohol consumption.

People who regularly participate in excess alcohol use may have a higher tolerance, and thus have a liver more accustomed to breaking down ethanol particles.

Because of the expedited processing speed of a person with a history of alcohol abuse, the detection window may decrease, resulting in lesser late-term detection efficacy.

Other Ways To Detect Alcohol In The Body

There are a number of other ways to detect alcohol in the body aside from urine tests.

Some of these are administered on a circumstantial basis, such as law enforcement typically carrying breathalyzer tests for pullovers and public incidents.

Alcohol blood tests and breath tests are among the most common, both of which measure the person’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level.

Hair tests conducted from follicle samples exist, too, which have varying maximum detection windows.

Side Effects And Health Risks Of Alcohol Addiction

The by-products and side effects of consuming too many alcoholic beverages are serious and can result in a number of detrimental health conditions.

Chronic physical and mental health disorders can develop as a direct result of alcohol abuse.

Further, even experienced drinkers can experience alcohol poisoning as a result of overestimating their capabilities, leading to serious cognitive impairment, coma, and even death.

Persons with alcohol use disorders may also experience severe symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.

If you or someone you know may have an alcohol addiction, do not hesitate to consult a healthcare professional and seek treatment as soon as possible.

Treatment Programs For Alcohol Abuse

There are a plethora of alcohol abuse treatment programs available at rehab centers, ranging from medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to detox and more.

Examples of alcohol recovery services available at rehab facilities include:

• inpatient and outpatient treatment programs
• residential treatment settings
• partial hospitalization programs (PHP)
• medically monitored alcohol detox
• therapy and counseling programs
• educational and vocational classes
• access to supportive Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings

Find Treatment For Alcohol Addiction Today

If you or a loved one are searching for an alcohol recovery program, give our free helpline a call to discuss the comprehensive treatment options available at Bedrock Recovery Center.