Ramesh has been drinking heavily every evening for several years. He now finds that two drinks no longer have any effect on him, and he needs four or five drinks to feel the same effect. Which of the following best explains this change?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → His body has built up a tolerance for alcohol
Option (1) His body has built up a tolerance for alcohol — Correct. Needing more and more drink to get the same effect is tolerance. After long, regular drinking the body gets used to alcohol, so a larger amount is needed to feel it.
Option (2) He is experiencing withdrawal responses from alcohol — Incorrect. Withdrawal responses are the unpleasant reactions a person has when he stops drinking. Ramesh is still drinking; his problem is that the usual amount has stopped working.
Option (3) Alcohol has depressed the brain areas that control judgment and inhibition — Incorrect. This is the first effect of alcohol in a single drinking session: the person becomes more talkative, friendly and confident.
Option (4) Alcohol has slowed down the respiratory centres in his brain — Incorrect. Slowing of the respiratory centres is the danger of a heroin overdose, which can almost paralyse breathing. It has nothing to do with needing more alcohol over the years.
NCERT (2026-27): “Alcohol “and ability to think and work. Their bodies then build up a tolerance for alcohol and they need to drink even greater amounts to feel its effects. They also experience withdrawal responses when they stop drinking. …” |