At what blood alcohol concentration (BAC) are you impaired?

The person is slightly impaired. They may have some difficulty maintaining their balance, their reaction time is slowed, and their vision and speech are no longer typical. Most people believe at this point that they are not as intoxicated as they actually are.

At this level, a person begins to lose their good judgment. They may make decisions that they would not make if they were sober. There is a significant impairment in speech, reaction time, balance, hearing, and vision.

There is now a lack of physical control. Euphoria and joy is slowly replaced by anxiety and a feeling of restlessness.

At this level of intoxication, a person begins to appear as what we call “sloppy” or “fall down” drunk. A person may begin to feel sick to their stomach.

A person has reached double the legal driving limit. They may need help moving from place to place safely, and if they happen to be injured, they probably won’t feel it. A person could become physically ill at this point, which is dangerous. The gag reflex is impaired now, so vomiting can cause a person to choke. A person who is this drunk should not be permitted to sleep on their back.

There is an increased risk of being injured due to an accident. There is also an increased risk of choking on vomit.

When a person is this intoxicated, they could pass out suddenly. They may also be difficult to wake up should they pass out. This person will have little awareness of where they are.

At this level, intoxication is similar to surgical anesthesia. A person could easily slip into a coma.

This level of intoxication is potentially fatal.

The more alcohol consumed, the higher the BAC. Different types of alcoholic beverages are absorbed at different rates.

Drinking alcohol more quickly will raise BAC faster, as the body can only metabolize alcohol at a steady rate, typically about one standard drink per hour.

Generally, people who weigh more will have a lower BAC after consuming the same amount of alcohol as someone who weighs less. Individuals with more muscle mass also tend to have a lower BAC than those with more fat, as body fat does not absorb alcohol well.

Women often have higher BACs than men after consuming the same amount of alcohol due to generally having less water in their bodies, higher body fat percentages, and different levels of alcohol-dehydrogenase, an enzyme involved in metabolizing alcohol.

Food in the stomach acts as a barrier, delaying alcohol from reaching the small intestine, where alcohol absorption is fastest.

Being dehydrated can increase BAC, while being well-hydrated can dilute alcohol concentration in the bloodstream, potentially lowering BAC.

Individuals with a faster metabolism can process alcohol more quickly, reducing BAC over a shorter period. Metabolic rates can vary due to genetics, overall health, and other factors.

Certain medications and drugs can interact with alcohol metabolism, potentially increasing the effects of alcohol and hence its concentration in the blood.

As people age, changes in body composition, metabolism, and organ function can affect how alcohol is processed, often resulting in higher BACs and prolonged effects of alcohol.

Stress and other emotional states can influence how the body processes alcohol, potentially affecting the rate of alcohol absorption and metabolism.

• Calculate your BAC