# Can alcohol be absorbed rectally? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 1, 2004, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-alcohol-be-absorbed-rectally/253129 "2004-07-01T22:51:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-alcohol-be-absorbed-rectally/253129/61 "2004-07-03T22:43:35Z")
I would have said rectal absorbtion leads to greater intoxication per unit volume due to avoidance of first pass metabolism myself. Now I read V/I’s posts, and I’m rather befuddled 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-alcohol-be-absorbed-rectally/253129/62 "2004-07-03T22:57:01Z")
Also, I rather thought one of the CYP450 isoforms is responsible for EtOH metabolism, in addition to ADH, and hence the impact taking certain drugs can have on the rate of EtOH metabolism, and visa versa. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-alcohol-be-absorbed-rectally/253129/63 "2004-07-03T23:00:45Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > I can’t get the image of waitresses doing handstands out of my head. Me either. I hope they open a franchise near here soon. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Vlad\_Igor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Vlad\_Igor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vlad_Igor)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2004, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-alcohol-be-absorbed-rectally/253129/64 "2004-07-04T01:02:01Z")
> [@Loopydude](#): > > Also, I rather thought one of the CYP450 isoforms is responsible for EtOH metabolism, in addition to ADH, and hence the impact taking certain drugs can have on the rate of EtOH metabolism, and visa versa. It is, by P450 2E1, and it is possible to change the 2E1 expression (e.g. phenytoin and carbamazepine taken together). I’ll ask, as our [lab](http://www.pgxlab.com/) does pharmacogenetic testing for several P450 genes. I hadn’t thought of that, actually. We did uncover a normally present promoter gene that is absent in the Asian Indian population (we think, we have an N=3), but it doesn’t affect the expression of ADH. I should look further into the ADH saturation rate, though. I can’t believe that it is **that** efficient at first pass clearance, but I could be wrong as well. Vlad/Igor ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Cloud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@Little\_Cloud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Cloud)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2004, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-alcohol-be-absorbed-rectally/253129/65 "2004-07-04T06:12:51Z")
Many, many years ago we used to give IV alcohol to try and stop premature labor. I decided to take some of this stuff home and try it since I hated the taste of alcohol and got sick with relatively small amounts in my stomach. I liked the feeling but wanted to avoid the taste and the nausea. Guess what I found out. IV alcohol promptly diffuses from areas of higher concentrations (bloodstream) to areas of lower concentration (stomach) so I got to barf out the taste I hated anyway. I imagine the same principle would work with rectal administration so it doesn’t really solve any problems for those who don’t enjoy the taste or burning sensation. The thing is, you can load a massive dose of alcohol very rapidly by rectal administration especially if you are in a hurry to get that tube out of your bum. A fine way to commit suicide by alcohol poisoning. And what a pretty death it would be — spewing reeking vomit from your mouth and reeking _something else_ from the other end, and probably all done to the sound track of an hysterical drunk on a crying jag. Now there is death with dignity. BTW, IV alcohol was pretty useless at arresting premature labor so don’t try this at home folks. ---
**Author:** ![Vlad\_Igor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Vlad\_Igor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vlad_Igor)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2004, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-alcohol-be-absorbed-rectally/253129/66 "2004-07-04T12:56:07Z")
> [@Little Cloud](#): > > Many, many years ago we used to give IV alcohol to try and stop premature labor. > … > BTW, IV alcohol was pretty useless at arresting premature labor so don’t try this at home folks. I had heard of that when I first started working in hospital labs 10 years ago. In fact, I think the first hospital I worked in still used alcohol IVs to stop or slow down contractions. I haven’t heard of that treatment since. I have heard of a drug used in Japan called urinary trypsin inhibitor that does slow or stop contractions. BTW, I misquoted in my last post: phenytoin and carbamazepine are **not** metabolized by the P450 2E1 protein. They are metabolized by the 2C9 and 2C19 proteins. Vlad/Igor ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2004, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-alcohol-be-absorbed-rectally/253129/67 "2004-07-04T12:57:44Z")
> [@DanBlather](#): > > I’ve certainly seen a lot of drunken a\*\*holes. Best. Answer. Ever. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2004, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-alcohol-be-absorbed-rectally/253129/68 "2004-07-04T18:17:48Z")
> [@Little Cloud](#): > > Many, many years ago we used to give IV alcohol to try and stop premature labor. > I decided to take some of this stuff home and try it since I hated the taste of alcohol and got sick with relatively small amounts in my stomach. I liked the feeling but wanted to avoid the taste and the nausea. We’ve had at least one thread on intravenous alcohol. The general consensus among nonMD Dopers was that the musicians who had admitted shooting up with Jim Beam were lucky not to be dead. The consensus among those Dopers who are MDs was that they were extremely and exceedingly lucky not to be dead, and we should absolutely not try this at home. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2004, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-alcohol-be-absorbed-rectally/253129/69 "2004-07-04T18:49:48Z")
> [@Blalron](#): > > If so, would it absorb faster that way than drinking it would? No, it is _ **not** _ recommended that you shove a wine bottle up your hiney!! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2004, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-alcohol-be-absorbed-rectally/253129/70 "2004-07-04T18:59:36Z")
> [@ouryL](#): > > No, it is _ **not** _ recommended that you shove a wine bottle up your hiney!! :eek: Indeed. That would tend to confuse the nose and finish of a vintage. OOfah! That year really needs to breathe 😛 ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2004, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-alcohol-be-absorbed-rectally/253129/71 "2004-07-04T19:37:52Z")
I would also avoid shoving Manishweitz, Mogen David, or Kedem up your tuchas. I would think that the high sugar content would lead to terrible gas. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2004, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-alcohol-be-absorbed-rectally/253129/72 "2004-07-04T21:46:31Z")
Let’s hope that these individuals at least mark which bottles they used rectally. It would be terrible to one day take a swig from the wrong one! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2004, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-alcohol-be-absorbed-rectally/253129/73 "2004-07-04T22:21:00Z")
Every time I see this thread title, I’m reminded of a defining moment on Canadian public television from the eighties: It was a [_Codco_](http://www.heritage.nf.ca/arts/codcoprof.html) sketch poking fun at the amount of alcohol consumed on-screen in the miniseries _Edward and Mrs. Simpson_. > [@as closely as I can remember](#): > > Butler: Martinis? > Edward VIII: Yes, absolutely. > (Butler produces hand truck to which a keg marked MARTINI is strapped.) > Butler (to Mrs. Simpson): Shall I insert the spigot directly into your mouth, madam? > Wallis Simpson: No, I prefer a rectal tube, actually. > Edward VIII: Yes, rectally, I think. > Butler: Very well. > (Mrs Simpson bends over the drinks cabinet and the butler lifts her dress and inserts a hose. Edward drops trou and a tube is likewise inserted. Edward and Mrs. Simpson discuss their political problems for some time while the butler operates a hand pump behind them. Their speech becomes more disorganized and slurred until at last they’re both crawling around on the floor, ass-tubes in the air, as Wallis urges her lover to "Abdicate, Edward! _Aaaabdicate!"_) God bless the CBC. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-alcohol-be-absorbed-rectally/253129.md?page=3)