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Why the first glass of Champagne poured from a bottle gets you drunker than the rest

Photo credit: Viktoria Rodriguez / EyeEm / Getty
Photo credit: Viktoria Rodriguez / EyeEm / Getty

From Country Living UK

A professor of medicine has revealed some interesting facts behind some of our habits and daily vices, such as drinking alcohol, eating chocolate and consuming caffeine.

In his book, The Longevity List, Merlin Thomas puts truth to many eating and drinking myths - one that particularly caught our eye involves Champagne...

Mr Thomas divulges that the first glass of Champagne poured from a bottle will get the person who drinks it drunker than those who drink the second, third and fourth glass poured from the very same bottle, the Mail Online reports.

Thomas explains that it's all about food and fizz. He concludes that, whereas food normally slows the absorption of alcohol into our system, drinking fizzy alcoholic drinks can speed up the process. The bubbles in our stomach actually increase the alcohol's absorption into our bloodstream.

Champagne is one of the worst culprits for this. Here's why...

Photo credit: Andy Roberts / Getty
Photo credit: Andy Roberts / Getty

How does Champagne get you drunk?

Once the cork has been popped, the carbon dioxide dissolved in the Champagne begins to escape as gas bubbles move to the surface of the liquid. When we drink, our stomachs fill up and the dissolved gas carries on being released. This process speeds up when the cold drink warms to body temperature.

The fizz forces our intestines to absorb the alcoholic contents of the Champagne at a faster rate. This is why Champagne gets you more intoxicated than a glass of flat white wine.

Why does the first glass get you drunker?

The first glass has more bubbles in it with more intoxicating gas. So this means there is a higher number of bubbles in our stomachs, increasing alcohol absorption.

Does the temperature of the Champagne make a difference?

A cold glass of champagne gets us more drunk as it bubbles less before entering our stomachs. Therefore, there is more dissolved gas left to bubble away inside our body. With this theory in mind, flat, warm Champagne would get you less drunk.

Interesting, no?

BUY NOW: The Longevity List: Myth Busting The Top Ways To Live A Long And Healthy Life by Merlin Thomas, published by Exisle at £10.99.

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