Factors influencing the rate of ethanol elimination from the blood were investigated, including the amount of ethanol ingested, drinking habits of subjects, and the effect of food taken together with or before drinking. Subjects included 150 healthy male volunteers who ranged in age from 20 to 60 years. Ethanol was administered in the form of neat whiskey or as pure ethanol diluted with orange juice. The slowest rate of ethanol disappearance was observed in a healthy male subject who ingested 0.68 grams of ethanol per kilogram of body weight after an overnight fast. The fastest rate of ethanol disappearance was observed in a male chronic alcoholic during detoxification. It was determined that differences in the rate of ethanol disposal should be considered when the pharmacokinetics of ethanol become an issue in drinking and driving trials, for example, when retrograde estimations are attempted. 68 references, 2 tables, and 6 figures