co OES TO YOUR BODY AND BRAIN It raises the level of feel-good chemical dopamine in the brain's reward center, tricking you into thinking you feel better. As a depressant, it puts the brakes on our brain's “excitator messengers and amplifies our “inhibitory” ones, making us feel sluggish. Too much, too often can damage the links between neurons and interfere with how your brain processes information. Within minutes, it starts to slow our thinking, breathing, and heart rate. Overdoing it can kill You may feel its effects In general, the liver can only in minutes, but the level process 1 0z of liquor per hour. Drinking more than that can of alcohol in your blood dangerously and swiftly raise won't peak for another your blood alcohol content. 40-90 minutes. In most people, the body More than 90% of people will absorb alcohol faster who drink heavily develop fatty liver disease, which if it's bubbly or if your stomach is empty. loss, and pain, 3: Dr. Samuel Ball/ CAS) lini; Nati in hol Abus SOURCES: Dr. Samuel Ball ASAColumbia; Mayo inc; National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and BUSINESS INSIDER Alcoholism; New Scienti: Choices; PLOS ONE; The New York Times.