Does Alcohol Show Up on a Drug Test?

How Long is Alcohol Detectable on Drug Tests of Different Kinds?

In several important scenarios, getting a positive alcohol test can seriously affect your life.

Whether you’re looking for a job, getting randomized drug testing at work, or are in a legal battle, getting a positive result for any substance is something you likely want to avoid.

This might lead you to ask: Does alcohol show up on a drug test? If so, how long is alcohol detectable for?

The most accurate answer is that, in certain instances, alcohol will show up on a drug test, while in others it will not be tested for at all. This is because there is more than one type of drug test. The type of test, along with other factors, influences your likelihood of getting a positive vs. negative result.

Typically, alcohol does not last longer than 72 hours in a urine test, but understanding the nuances will provide a more complete picture, and our full resource delves into everything you need to consider.

Purpose Healing Center provides accredited mental health and addiction treatment for clients across Arizona. We’re here to answer your questions about alcohol testing and help you find support, so keep reading to learn all you need to know about this crucial topic.

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Does Alcohol Show Up on a Drug Test? What to Know

Yes, alcohol can show up on a drug test if it is among the substances being tested for. While not every drug test (e.g., a standard 5-panel drug test) screens for alcohol, many of them do. Some workplaces use a pre-employment drug test that looks for alcohol, whereas others do not.

Of course, a pre-employment screening is not the only reason someone might get a drug test. If you’re getting a drug test for any purpose, the best way to avoid any issues is to refrain from consuming alcohol or any other drugs prior to the screening.

Drinking excess fluids, whether water or alcohol, could dilute your urine sample. This can be interpreted as a red flag, suggesting you may have tampered with the testing results. In turn, you might have to participate in other drug tests, which might be more invasive.

How Long Will Each Type of Drug Test Detect Alcohol For?

Alcohol Detection Windows Across Breath, Urine, Blood - Purpose Healing Center

Each type of drug test will show alcohol and other drugs for a different period of time. Here is approximately how long each type of test can detect alcohol in your system.

Urine Alcohol Screening or EtG Testing

If a person has been drinking excessively, alcohol can be found in the urine for 12-130 hours. However, a biomarker reflecting alcohol intake called phosphatidylethanol (PEth) can be detected for longer (up to 14 days).

The type of urine test you get can influence how long alcohol will show up. For example, an advanced urine screening test will detect alcohol for a longer period than a standard urine drug test.

Breath (Breathalyzer) Tests

Breath tests can detect alcohol consumption for up to 24 hours. This type of test is used to detect recent alcohol consumption. For example, it might be used after a car accident or at a sober living home to determine whether you’re currently intoxicated or have been recently.

Blood Tests for Alcohol Use

Blood tests can show alcohol use for up to about 12 hours. While the timeframe is short, this type of test can be helpful in some situations. For example, if it’s suspected that a person has attempted or may attempt to tamper with urine alcohol tests, a blood test might be used instead.

Saliva Drug Tests

Saliva tests can detect alcohol consumption for about 48 hours. This type of test is typically performed by swabbing the inside of the mouth, including your cheeks and under your tongue.

Hair Follicle Tests

A hair follicle test can identify alcohol for up to 90 days. While a urine sample, blood test, breath test, or saliva drug test can only show recent alcohol use, hair tests are useful for detecting long-term patterns of alcohol use.

What Factors Influence the Alcohol Detection Window Other Than Drug Test Type?

Image of a urine alcohol test kit showing sample container used for EtG and PEth alcohol detection

It’s not just the type of test you take. Other factors can affect how long alcohol shows up on a drug test. For example:

The amount of alcohol consumed. The more alcohol you drink, the more likely you are to get a positive alcohol test result. When you drink more, it will also take more time for your body to process and get rid of alcohol.
Body size. Generally speaking, a larger-bodied person will have a lower blood alcohol concentration (BAC) after drinking the same amount of alcohol as a smaller person.
Health conditions. People with certain medical concerns, such as impaired liver function, may have prolonged detection times.
Older adults may process alcohol more slowly, leading to longer detection times.
Your genetics influence alcohol metabolism by influencing the efficiency of enzymes used to break alcohol down in the body.

Chronic or excessive alcohol consumption leads to longer detection times due to the accumulation of alcohol in your system. Getting help for alcoholism can help you avoid the adverse consequences of alcohol abuse, including positive drug test results.

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What Happens if my Drug Test is Positive for Alcohol?

What happens when you get a positive drug test depends, partially, on why the drug test was ordered. In cases of workplace alcohol testing, a positive test could lead to:

Re-testing. It is standard that an employer will order another test for you in cases such as those where a person could have gotten a false positive result.
Follow-up drug testing. Random drug testing or follow-up tests might be used to ensure that an employee is staying sober on the job.
Mandatory alcohol addiction treatment. Rather than penalize an employee, those who get a positive alcohol test may be required to seek help for alcohol misuse to preserve their employment.
Disciplinary action. In some cases, a positive drug test could lead to disciplinary actions like suspension, termination, or restriction from engaging in some work tasks.

In legal cases, factors like the specific charge, where you live, and whether or not it is a repeat offense might influence what the repercussions are for a positive test.

Why Should You Not Use Synthetic Urine to Pass a Drug Test?

Some people use synthetic (fake) urine in an attempt to pass a drug test. Testing labs are aware of this. They know how to look out for red flags indicating that urine samples are not real.

Using synthetic urine can mean that you lose the trust of your employer, the legal system, or healthcare providers. Additionally, some states have local laws banning the use and sale of synthetic urine. This can lead to further repercussions.

Getting caught using fake urine at work could lead to disqualification for job offers, blacklisting, or immediate job loss. So, just as diluting your sample can backfire, it’s best to avoid synthetic urine entirely.

Getting Help for Alcohol Misuse as a Proactive Measure

There are effective treatments for alcohol use disorder. Often, the treatment process begins with medical detox, which helps you get through withdrawal symptoms safely. After that, evidence-based treatments, like therapy, help people sustain sobriety.

For some people, prescription medications for alcohol addiction can be highly advantageous. These are combined with therapy as part of an approach to care called medication-assisted treatment (MAT).

It is true that relapse can be a part of the recovery process for some people. This does not mean that treatment didn’t work. If you notice yourself using alcohol or feeling tempted to after getting sober, seeking support is vital.

Call Purpose for Alcohol Treatment Programs in Arizona

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Purpose Healing Center is a top-rated substance abuse and mental health treatment center. We have multiple locations in the Grand Canyon state. Our centers take the majority of health insurance plans, including most types of AHCCCS.

We provide true medical detox for alcohol addiction, as well as inpatient and outpatient treatment options. The continuum of care we offer allows you to opt for the type of program you need and maintain a sustained support system throughout your recovery.

Call our confidential admissions line to talk with an intake specialist today. We’re here to answer your questions or help you start the recovery process now.

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FAQs About Alcohol and Drug Testing

What happens if you drink alcohol before a urine test?

If a urine test is looking for alcohol, it’s very likely that you will test positive for alcohol if you drink beforehand. Factors like how much and how often you drink (including when your last drink was prior to the test) can affect the likelihood of a positive test result.

Do employer drug tests look for alcohol?

In many cases, pre-employment screenings don’t test for alcohol. However, some do. It is more common that pre-employment workplace drug tests will include alcohol in safety-sensitive industries.

You might also be required to take a test that screens for alcohol metabolites if your employer has a reason to believe that you might have been intoxicated on the job.