Which organ is primarily responsible for alcohol metabolism?

The liver is the primary organ responsible for alcohol metabolism due to its specific enzymatic pathways designed to break down and process alcohol. When alcohol is consumed, it enters the bloodstream and travels to the liver, where it is metabolized mainly by enzymes such as alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). These enzymes facilitate the conversion of alcohol into acetaldehyde and then to acetate, which can be easily eliminated from the body.

The liver’s pivotal role in detoxifying substances and processing nutrients also underscores its importance in maintaining metabolic balance. While other organs such as the stomach can contribute to the initial breakdown of alcohol and the brain can be affected by its presence, they do not have the specialized capability for effective alcohol metabolism like the liver. Therefore, the liver's specific function in processing alcohol establishes it as the primary organ for this metabolic process.