do some metabolise alcohol better than others?

[evedawn]

Me - my body hates it. 3 glasses of wine last night and I am suffering big time!

My husband regularly drinks much much more than me but always wakes up really chipper with no side effects at all, (he has NEVER had a hangover in his life!)

[grasscarp]

Without a doubt Eve, we are all different. In general men seem to handle large quantities better due to the larger physique. It is also true that if you drink regularly you build up a tolerance and need more to get drunk. As for suffering due to last night's indulgence - you are not alone!

[beso]

There are huge genetic differences in the metabolic breakdown of alcohol. In general people of East Asian decent do not manage alcohol well.

My guess is the more Roman genes you have the better you will manage.

Also in general women do not break down alcohol as well as men.

[david small]

You may simply have a low tolerance level or a slight allergy to alcohol, my sister has something similar.
Also get you blood sugar level checked, it is possible you may be a diabetic such as myself, and not even know it. If I have too much alcohol I feel wretched for at least three days.
Though pleasant socially, alcohol is in fact a poison. Lots of nice things are Illegal, Immoral or Fattening

[Hermia]

I have no tolerance to alcohol at all. One small glass of wine makes me extremely tipsy and two sends me to sleep. It doesn't matter what drink it is the effect is the same. Plus I get headaches and feel stupidly drowsy. I'd be at dinner parties and feeling like I was on valium. I'd have one glass of wine and could barely follow the conversation. Even when I was at university I couldn't build up a tolerance like my friends. I gave up alcohol years ago as I decided I feel much better without it.