How do you know when you’ve had too much? Depending on how often you drink, you might feel fine, but your blood-alcohol level will show something very different. When it comes to drunken driving, that’s what really counts, as your intoxication level can lead to drunken driving arrests and crashes. While many factors affect your blood-alcohol content, you can refer to general blood alcohol level estimates this New Year’s Eve before you get behind the wheel.
Factors Involved
An important factor to remember regarding blood alcohol level estimates is that your sex and weight will make a difference. Alcohol affects different people in different ways, so you can’t make a general assumption about how alcohol will affect you or others with you.
Remember also that your blood-alcohol level does not always correlate with how intoxicated you feel. Someone who has a low blood-alcohol level but does not normally drink, for instance, may feel more intoxicated after one drink than a regular drinker who consumed several alcoholic beverages. Again, if you’re pulled over for drunken driving this New Year’s Eve, a breath test will reveal the real story.
Other factors involved include the type of drink you had and its alcohol content, how quickly you consumed the drinks, and how much time passed since you had the drinks.
Blood Alcohol Level Estimates
There is no perfect formula that determines blood alcohol levels. A blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent or higher is considered intoxicated, and generally, a BAC of 0.3 or higher is considered a medical emergency and could be fatal.
Following is a general, broad idea about the relationship between alcohol consumption and BAC. For the purpose of these blood alcohol level estimates, one drink is considered:
- 5 ounces of hard liquor,
- 12 ounces of beer, or
- 5 ounces of wine.
Your blood alcohol level is likely over the limit if you weigh:
- 100-120 pounds and had three drinks
- 140-160 pounds and had four drinks
- 180-200 pounds and had five drinks
- 220-240 pounds and had six drinks
According to the American Addiction Centers, the liver can metabolize 1 ounce of alcohol every hour. The amount of alcohol required to achieve a BAC of 0.08 would take more than five hours to be completely cleared from your body.
Remember that even if your BAC is not over the limit, you could still be impaired.
Your best bet, always, is to have a designated driver or call for a ride home from that New Year’s Eve party or any event where you know you will be drinking. You’re better safe than sorry.
Tags: Alcohol Intoxication, Blood Alcohol Content, Blood Alcohol Level, Drunken Driving, Drunken Driving Penalties, Legal Limit