Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism- BLOOD ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION (BAC) CHART

ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION CHART
Estimates of your Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)
following your consumption of one of more alcoholic drinks in one hour.
(Click here to go right to chart, or, read the following first for an explanation of "BAC".)

Why is "BAC" important? For one thing, BAC levels are important because they are what law enforcement officials use to determine (based on a test or tests) whether or not you are "DUI" (driving under the influence), i.e., a "drunk" driver. For another, testing for BAC levels is done today by many employers to determine if you should be relieved from the job for a day (e.g., to sleep it off) or be immediately fired for being impaired while performing your job. Usually, the BAC levels an employer uses for those determinations are 0.020% to 0.029% (you're relieved from duty for 24 hours) and at 0.040 or higher you will be fired. Companies and other organizations that have what is termed a "zero tolerance" policy about alcohol-use or alcohol-impairment while on the job will terminate your employment if you test at a BAC level of as little as 0.001%.

An individual's BAC level at a given moment can be determined by analyzing a sample of their blood or a sample of their breath from that moment. If you are given a "breath alcohol" test (often called a "breathalyzer" test), it is actually your blood that is being tested for its BAC level. Yes, that's correct: Even though it's a "breath" test, the Breath Alcohol Concentration (called "BrAC") reading that results from your test will scientifically relate directly to the concentration of alcohol in your blood at the time that your breath is tested. So, if you are tested and found to have a BrAC (Breath Alcohol Concentration) of 0.020% and they were to draw a sample of your blood at the very same time of your breath-test and analyze it, your BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration) would also be at a level of 0.02%. Now, you may think that sounds implausible, but trust us, it IS scientifically proven to be accurate and has been court-tested all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court. If you are going to "gamble" with having alcohol in your system either while on the job or while driving, be prepared to pay the penalties associated with your actions, since you will have little if any legal recourse!

The chart below is only intended only as a general guide. Actual "Blood Alcohol Concentration" (BAC) values will vary by body build, sex, and current health status. Also, fatigue and other "stress factors" can temporarily lower a person's tolerance level to alcohol. In other words, you'll likely have deteriorated mental and physical functions "sooner" (and/or with less alcohol consumed) when you are stressed-out than you would when you have that same amount of alcohol in your system but are "feeling great". Therefore, when you are particularly tired or "mentally drained", either do not drink at all or... drink less. In any case, if you go somewhere, have a non-drinking "designated driver" get you there and back! CLICK HERE for the BAC levels in each U.S. State at which you will be (and should be!) arrested if you are caught driving a car.

EXPECTED BLOOD ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION (“BAC”)
BASED ON THE NUMBER OF DRINKS YOU'VE CONSUMED IN A ONE-HOUR PERIOD

Remember- your sex, health, state of mind make all these expectations a bit variable.

BODY WEIGHT IN POUNDS	1 drink	2 drinks	3	4	5	6	7	8
90 - 109
110 - 129
130 - 149
150 - 169
170 - 189
190 - 209
210 - 229
230 & UP
For the purposes of this chart, “One Drink” =12 oz. Beer or 4 oz. Wine or 1 1/4 oz. 80-Proof Liquor. If you prefer 18 oz. cans of beer or 90-Proof Liquor, you need a different chart!

BAC of .01% to .05% NOTE THAT FOR MANY PEOPLE, ONLY “ONE” DRINK WILL TAKE THEM TO THIS LEVEL OF DECREASED COORDINATION.	Some-to-great loss of judgment and coordination, thinking dulled, changes in mood and behavior. A BAC of 0.02% at many U.S. companies will require that an employee be relieved of duty for 24 hours and at 0.04 they will be fired. In an organization with a "zero-tolerance" policy as regards alcohol use, you will be fired if you test at 0.001% (which is less than 0.010%)

BAC of .05% to .08% NOTE THAT EVERYONE HAS REACHED THIS POINT AFTER JUST THEIR 1^ST OR 2^ND DRINK!	*Functioning ability definitely* impaired.** Walking, speech, and hand movements clumsy. Blurred, split, or tunnel vision may occur. Judgment and equipment operating ability impaired. Chance of accident is greatly increased by up to 300% or more.

BAC of .08% and over NOTE THAT SOME PEOPLE REACH THIS POINT BY THEIR 2^ND DRINK AND ALL HAVE BY THEIR 3^RD OR 4^TH.	*Functioning and judgment very seriously* affected.** Responses greatly slowed. Behavior greatly affected. Very high risk of accident. In most U.S. States, with a BAC of .08% or higher, you will be arrested if driving a car.
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CLICK HERE for the BAC levels in each U.S. State at which you will be (and should be!) arrested if you are caught driving a car.

ALCOHOL ABUSE AND ALCOHOLISM- BLOOD ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION ("BAC") CHART

STUDY CHART BELOW TO SEE WHY...
"ONLY ONE" DRINK CAN BE "ONE TOO MANY"!

CLICK HERE for a "FAQ" Article about Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

EXPECTED BLOOD ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION (“BAC”)
BASED ON THE NUMBER OF DRINKS YOU'VE CONSUMED IN A ONE-HOUR PERIOD

1 drink

2
drinks

3

4

5

6

7

8

ALCOHOL ABUSE AND ALCOHOLISM- BLOOD ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION ("BAC") CHART

STUDY CHART BELOW TO SEE WHY... "ONLY ONE" DRINK CAN BE "ONE TOO MANY"! CLICK HERE for a "FAQ" Article about Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

EXPECTED BLOOD ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION (“BAC”) BASED ON THE NUMBER OF DRINKS YOU'VE CONSUMED IN A ONE-HOUR PERIOD

1 drink

2 drinks

3

4

5

6

7

8

STUDY CHART BELOW TO SEE WHY...
"ONLY ONE" DRINK CAN BE "ONE TOO MANY"!

CLICK HERE for a "FAQ" Article about Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

EXPECTED BLOOD ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION (“BAC”)
BASED ON THE NUMBER OF DRINKS YOU'VE CONSUMED IN A ONE-HOUR PERIOD

2
drinks