How is alcohol mostly metabolized in the body?

Alcohol is primarily metabolized in the liver, making it the main organ responsible for breaking down ethanol, the active component in alcoholic beverages. The liver contains specific enzymes, notably alcohol dehydrogenase and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, which facilitate the conversion of alcohol into acetaldehyde and then into acetic acid, eventually leading to its elimination from the body.

While the stomach and intestines can absorb alcohol into the bloodstream, they do not significantly contribute to its metabolism. The lungs play a role in eliminating alcohol in the form of breath (e.g., measured by breathalyzers), but they do not metabolize it. Thus, the liver's role as the primary site for alcohol metabolism underscores its critical function in processing substances consumed and detoxifying the body.