Final answer:
Amylase is not employed by the liver for alcohol metabolism; rather, it is an enzyme used for starch breakdown in the digestive system. The liver primarily uses the alcohol dehydrogenase and microsomal ethanol oxidizing systems to process ethanol. Chronic heavy alcohol consumption can result in liver damage and subsequent kidney dysfunction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The liver employs various systems to process alcohol, with the alcohol dehydrogenase system being responsible for the majority of ethanol processing. During chronic and elevated alcohol consumption, additional systems like the microsomal ethanol oxidizing system (MEOS) are also utilized to handle the excess ethanol. However, the liver does not use amylase for alcohol metabolism; amylases are enzymes that break down starch into glucose in the digestive system, beginning in the mouth and completing in the small intestine.
When considering the effect of heavy drinking on the liver, it's important to note the association between alcohol, liver disease, and kidney dysfunction. Chronic heavy drinking can lead to liver disease, which in turn can cause kidney dysfunction because the liver and kidneys work together to remove wastes from the bloodstream. Therefore, understanding the roles of the alcohol dehydrogenase system and amylases helps in grasping the broader picture of the digestive and excretory systems during alcohol consumption.