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1) I would assume the area under the concentration/time curve would be larger as is the case for other substances that are given in a way that bypasses first pass. Ethanol already has a high bioavailability, but I would anticipate a bioavailability approaching 1.0 and a very rapid peak in plasma concentration. As far as metabolism and elimination, ethanol quickly reaches saturation kinetics and as such follows 0 order elimination kinetics even at low concentrations. I would not anticipate this to change. Ethanol is metabolised via three pathways: ADH enzyme, catalase enzymes and CYP2E1. Normally, catalase and CYP2E1 are minor pathways, but with chronic ethanol exposure, CYP2E1 is inducible. I'd expect that to occur with chronic ethanol exposure at sufficiently high enough concentrations regardless of the route. 2) Reasonably high with enough use. 3) Not sure, but I'm not surprised by the story.