The study identifies demographic and clinical factors associated with higher acute and ongoing harmful alcohol concentrations in emergency department presentations. It found that younger patients, males, injury-related presentations, and those brought in by ambulance or involuntarily, were more likely to have higher blood ethanol concentrations. Higher phosphatidylethanol concentrations were identified for middle-aged males and in the days following the festive period. The study suggests the need for screening and assessment for harmful alcohol consumption, particularly post-festive periods, to inform patient-tailored interventions and resource allocation. Conducted at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital in Queensland, Australia, the study used blood ethanol and phosphatidylethanol markers to measure alcohol intake in emergency department presentations.