Understanding Blood Alcohol Content
BAC measures how much alcohol is in your blood. It's affected by how much you drink, your weight, gender, and time.
BAC Impairment Levels
- 0.02-0.03%: Slight relaxation, mild mood changes
- 0.05-0.06%: Lowered inhibitions, impaired judgment
- 0.08%: Legal limit - impaired coordination, reaction time
- 0.10-0.12%: Significant impairment, slurred speech
- 0.15%+: Major impairment, risk of blackout
Standard Drink Sizes
- 12 oz regular beer (5% alcohol)
- 5 oz wine (12% alcohol)
- 1.5 oz spirits (40% alcohol)
- 8-9 oz malt liquor (7% alcohol)
Factors Affecting BAC
- Weight: Lower weight = higher BAC
- Gender: Women typically have higher BAC from same drinks
- Food: Eating slows absorption
- Drinking speed: Faster drinking = higher peak BAC