What is Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)?
The definition of blood alcohol content is the concentration of alcohol in one's bloodstream, expressed as a percentage. Blood alcohol content, or BAC, is used to determine whether a person is legally intoxicated, especially under a driving while intoxicated law. In the field of traffic safety, BAC is expressed as the percentage of alcohol in deciliters of blood–for example, 0.10 percent. A 160-pound man, for instance, will have a BAC of approximately 0.04 percent 1 hour after consuming two 12-ounce beers or two other standard drinks on an empty stomach. All State Laws have specific driver BAC limits, which vary by State. According to these laws, operating a vehicle while having a BAC over the given limit is illegal.
One Drink is Considered....
- 1 12 oz Beer
- 1 5 Ounce Glass of Wine
- 1 Shot or 1.25 Ounces of Hard Liquor
Women
| Weight in Pounds |
90 | 100 | 120 | 140 | 160 | 180 | 200 | 220 | 240 | |
| Number of drinks | ||||||||||
| 0 | .00 | .00 | .00 | .00 | .00 | .00 | .00 | .00 | .00 | Only Safe Driving Limit |
| 1 | .05 | .05 | .04 | .03 | .03 | .03 | .02 | .02 | .02 | Driving Skills Significantly Affected/Possible Criminal Penalties |
| 2 | .10 | .09 | .08 | .07 | .06 | .05 | .05 | .04 | .04 | Driving Skills Significantly Affected/Possible Criminal Penalties |
| 3 | .15 | .14 | .11 | .10 | .09 | .08 | .07 | .06 | .06 | Driving Skills Significantly Affected/Possible Criminal Penalties |
| 4 | .20 | .18 | .15 | .13 | .11 | .10 | .09 | .08 | .08 | Driving Skills Significantly Affected/Possible Criminal Penalties |
| 5 | .25 | .23 | .19 | .16 | .14 | .13 | .11 | .10 | .09 | Driving Skills Significantly Affected/Possible Criminal Penalties |
| 6 | .30 | .27 | .23 | .19 | .17 | .15 | .14 | .12 | .11 | Legally Intoxicated /Criminal Penalties |
| 7 | .35 | .32 | .27 | .23 | .20 | .18 | .16 | .14 | .13 | Legally Intoxicated/Criminal Penalties |
| 8 | .40 | .36 | .30 | .26 | .23 | .20 | .18 | .17 | .15 | Legally Intoxicated/Criminal Penalties |
| 9 | .45 | .41 | .34 | .29 | .26 | .23 | .20 | .19 | .17 | Legally Intoxicated/Criminal Penalties |
| 10 | .51 | .45 | .38 | .32 | .28 | .25 | .23 | .21 | .19 | Death Possible |
*Subtract .01% for each 40 minutes of drinking.
Men
| Weight in Pounds |
100 | 120 | 140 | 160 | 180 | 200 | 220 | 240 | |
| Number of drinks | |||||||||
| 0 | .00 | .00 | .00 | .00 | .00 | .00 | .00 | .00 | Only Safe Driving Limit |
| 1 | .04 | .03 | .03 | .02 | .02 | .02 | .02 | .02 | Driving Skills Significantly Affected/Possible Criminal Penalties |
| 2 | .08 | .06 | .05 | .05 | .04 | .04 | .03 | .03 | Driving Skills Significantly Affected/Possible Criminal Penalties |
| 3 | .11 | .09 | .08 | .07 | .06 | .06 | .05 | .05 | Driving Skills Significantly Affected/Possible Criminal Penalties |
| 4 | .15 | .12 | .11 | .09 | .08 | .08 | .07 | .06 | Driving Skills Significantly Affected/Possible Criminal Penalties |
| 5 | .19 | .16 | .13 | .12 | .11 | .09 | .09 | .08 | Driving Skills Significantly Affected/Possible Criminal Penalties |
| 6 | .23 | .19 | .16 | .14 | .13 | .11 | .10 | .09 | Legally Intoxicated /Criminal Penalties |
| 7 | .26 | .22 | .19 | .16 | .15 | .13 | .12 | .11 | Legally Intoxicated/Criminal Penalties |
| 8 | .30 | .25 | .21 | .19 | .17 | .15 | .14 | .13 | Legally Intoxicated/Criminal Penalties |
| 9 | .34 | .28 | .24 | .21 | .19 | .17 | .15 | .14 | Legally Intoxicated/Criminal Penalties |
| 10 | .38 | .31 | .27 | .23 | .21 | .19 | .17 | .16 | Death Possible |
*Subtract .01% for each 40 minutes of drinking.
