What BAC Really Means
You have read a lot about 0.08 as it pertains to drunk driving. You know that 0.08 is the legal limit at which you are considered to be too intoxicated to drive. What you may not know, is that 0.08 does not affect everyone in the same manner.
How alcohol affects your mind and body depends on many things, including your gender, your height, your weight, how much you have had to eat, and even the time of your last drink. The safest thing to do, of course, is to not drink a single drink and get behind the wheel. The second best thing is to know how various levels of blood alcohol concentration may affect you.
0.02
When your blood alcohol concentration, BAC, reaches 0.02, you may feel relaxed, your body temperature may rise slightly, and your mood may become altered. You could experience some loss of judgment. You will have a decline in your visual functions and in your ability to multitask.
0.05
When your BAC reaches 0.05, you can reasonably expect to have exaggerated behavior. Your small muscle control can become inhibited, and your judgment may become impaired. Your alertness will be lowered, your inhibitions are released, and you simply feel good. For most people, this BAC level means reduced coordination, reduced response time, and a lowered ability to track objects.
0.08
Once you hit the legal limit, you find it more difficult to detect or interpret danger. Your muscle coordination becomes impaired, and your judgment, reasoning, self-control, and even memory are impacted. You can expect short-term memory loss, slurred speech, impaired perception, and an inability to concentrate.
0.10
People who have a BAC of 0.10 have a very clear level of intoxication. Speech is slurred, coordination is diminished, and reaction time is incapacitated. You may notice that your thinking slows. As for driving, you have an inability to maintain a straight path in your own lane and you fail to brake properly.
0.15
This BAC includes a significant loss of balance and motor control. Unless you have gotten to this level over several hours or more, you may begin to vomit. If you choose to get behind the wheel, you will have difficulty paying attention to the road, and your auditory and visual processing skills are severely impaired.
Please understand that the above are typical responses to alcohol by the average person. Those who drink frequently, those who have had several drinks over many hours, or those who binge drink may have different reactions. This is in no way a list that is meant to assist you in determining your level of intoxication. It is only meant to be used as information.
If you or a loved one has been arrested and charged with DUI, please contact our offices as soon as you are able to do so. Our attorneys are here to help you put the pieces back together. Call us today.