Cause and manner of death and phase of the blood alcohol curve

Highlights • Phase of the blood–alcohol curve at time of death was estimated from the concentrations of ethanol in blood and urine at autopsy. • People dying in the absorptive and peak phases of the BAC curve were older than those dying in the post-absorptive phase. • Traffic related deaths and accidental falls were more prevalent during peak and post-absorptive phases. • Alcoholic liver diseases, hypertensive diseases and esophago-gastroduodenal diseases were more common in the peak phase.