A study reports that when a beverage is consumed with a carbohydrate-rich meal, pre-systemic metabolism reduces systemic ethanol by 25% and delays time-to-peak from 30 minutes to 90 minutes. Analyze how these two changes would affect both (a) peak BAC and (b) duration of elevated BAC, and choose the most accurate combined statement.

• A. Peak BAC would fall by 25% and duration would fall proportionally by 25% because both metrics are directly proportional to the percent absorbed regardless of kinetic changes.
• B. Peak BAC would increase because delayed absorption allows more hepatic extraction, concentrating ethanol in blood; duration would shorten because the liver eliminates ethanol faster when absorption is delayed.
• C. Peak BAC would decrease by about 25% while the duration of elevated BAC would lengthen because slower absorption delays the peak and spreads ethanol exposure over a longer interval, producing a lower but more prolonged BAC curve.
• D. There would be no change in peak BAC because hepatic metabolism compensates completely for reduced absorption, and duration remains unchanged because total ethanol exposure is constant.

Answer: (C)