An alcoholic drink mixed with carbonated soda is absorbed more quickly than one without the soda, primarily because:

• A. carbonation in the mixed drink relaxes the pyloric valve and accelerates gastric emptying.
• B. carbonated mixers chemically increase the ethanol concentration making absorption faster.
• C. sugar in the soda speeds absorption by increasing gastric metabolism.
• D. sugar reduces the volume of the drink so it leaves the stomach sooner.

Answer: (A)