How are average-sized and above-average-sized people sometimes able to develop huge tolerances to alcohol and not immediately die?

Question

I’m sure we’ve all heard and read endless anecdotes about the guy who got pulled over and blew a .46, or someone that can drink entire bottle of vodka. Or Ric Flair, for example, who told a story in a documentary about a time when he drank a six-pack of beer before arriving at an airport, drank 10 double tequila, cranberry and sodas before the flight at the airport bar, had eight bloody Mary’s on the flight, and drank another six-pack of beer upon landing. Like, how does that not kill someone?

In: 876

Answer 1

Alcohol resistance has 3 main factors:

1) body mass: the heavier you are, the more alcohol distributes

2) genetics: some nations, that have used alcohol for really long time as part of their culture have higher resistance to it, because the body can deal with alcohol easily

3) training: similar as genetics… Your body gets used to higher doses and learns how to deal with them