Alcohol

BAC Chart

 

MALE BLOOD ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION GUIDE

Number of
Drinks Per Hour
PERCENT OF ALCOHOL IN BLOODSTREAM
 
BODY WEIGHT IN POUNDS
110
120
140
160
180
200
220
240
0
ONLY SAFE DRIVING LIMIT
1
.04
.03
.02
.02
.02
.02
.02
.02
Driving
Skills
IMPAIRED
2
.08
.06
.05
.05
.04
.04
.03
.03
3
.11
.09
.08
.07
.06
.06
.05
.05
4
.15
.12
.11
.09
.08
.08
.07
.06
5
.19
.16
.13
.12
.11
.09
.09
.08
LEGALLY DRUNK IN IOWA and most states
6
.23
.19
.16
.14
.13
.11
.10
.09
7
.26
.22
.19
.16
.15
.13
.12
.11
8
.30
.25
.21
.19
.17
.15
.14
.13
9
.34
.28
.24
.21
.19
.17
.15
.14


FEMALE BLOOD ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION GUIDE

Number of
Drinks Per Hour
PERCENT OF ALCOHOL IN BLOODSTREAM
 
BODY WEIGHT IN POUNDS
100
120
140
160
180
200
220
240
0
ONLY SAFE DRIVING LIMIT
1
.05
.04
.03
.03
.03
.02
.02
.02
Driving
Skills
IMPAIRED
2
.09
.08
.07
.06
.05
.05
.04
.04
3
.14
.11
.10
.09
.08
.07
.06
.06
4
.18
.15
.13
.11
.10
.09
.08
.08
LEGALLY
DRUNK IN
IOWA and
most states
5
.23
.19
.16
.14
.13
.11
.10
.09
6
.27
.23
.19
.17
.15
.14
.12
.11
7
.32
.27
.23
.20
.18
.16
.14
.13
8
.36
.30
.26
.23
.20
.18
.17
.15
9
.41
.34
.29
.26
.23
.20
.19
.17


Note: The data on the charts is indicative of only one hour of alcohol consumption. Consuming multiple drinks per hour over a period of more than one hour would render a person’s Blood Alcohol Content significantly higher than the data listed on the chart for one hour of consumption.

 

IMPAIRED DRIVING

BAC %

DRINKS CONSUMED
EFFECTS
Male
Female

0.02%

1
1
Ability to track moving objects and do tasks requiring divided attention may suffer.

0.05%

2 to 3
1 to 2
Thought, judgment and restraint more lax. Steering errors increase. Vision impaired.

0.08%

3 to 4
2 to 4
Legal limit in most states. Drivers are 3 to 4 times more likely to crash than a sober driver. Movements are clumsy. Reaction time slows more.

0.10%

3 to 5
2 to 5
Drivers are 6 times more likely to crash. Movements are clumsy. Reaction time slows even more.

0.15%

4 to 7
3 to 7
Crashing is 25 times more likely. Reaction time increasingly affected especially in divided tasks. Field of vision narrows.
One drink =
5 oz. glass of 12% wine, or
12 oz. glass of 5% beer, or
1.5 oz. 80 proof spirits, or
0.8 oz. 151 proof spirits

Figures contained in the charts are averages, BAC and effects of alcohol on individuals vary widely.