Alcohol intoxication refers to a temporary altered mental state associated with the presence of alcohol in the body. The term alcohol intoxication is often used to describe the acute behavioral, physiological, and psychological effects of alcohol consumption. An important component of the definition of alcohol intoxication is that the effects must co-occur with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) greater than zero. This helps distinguish alcohol intoxication from related experiences that may share similar behavioral, physiological, or psychological characteristics, such as alcohol expectancies (i.e., placebo effect), alcohol craving (i.e., the desire or urge to consume alcohol), and alcohol withdrawal (i.e., a syndrome resulting from reduction or termination of alcohol consumption following a period of heavy, prolonged alcohol use).

Specific definitions of alcohol intoxication can vary widely, depending ...