How long alcohol is detected in the system depends on what is being tested.

Blood The concentration of alcohol in the blood, or BAC, helps to determine how long alcohol stays in the system.

In general, alcohol is eliminated at 0.015 per hour. For example, someone who has a BAC Of 0.08, which is when it becomes illegal to drive, will take around 5.5 hours to flush the alcohol out of their body.

It is important to know that someone who drinks a lot or on an empty stomach may still have alcohol in their system the next day, making it illegal to drive a vehicle even then.

Urine How long alcohol is detectable in the urine will depend on the test used, as some urine tests are far more sensitive than others.

Currently, there is a test that can detect alcohol use up to 80 hours, or 3 to 4 days, after the last drink a person had.

Breath Frequently checked as part of routine breathalyzer testing, alcohol can be detected in the breath for up to 24 hours after the last drink.

Hair Hair testing can be used to detect the use of many different substances, including alcohol. Alcohol can be detected in the hair for around 90 days after an alcoholic drink was consumed.

Breast milk Alcohol can remain in the breast milk for as long as it remains in the blood. As alcohol leaves the blood, it also leaves the milk, making it unnecessary to “pump and dump” breast milk after drinking alcohol.

Pumping breast milk will not eliminate alcohol from the milk any quicker.

Saliva Trace amounts of alcohol can be detected in a saliva swab around 10-24 hours after the last drink