Estimating Your BAC

After a night of drinking, you may feel perfectly able to drive your vehicle home safely. However, if your blood alcohol content (BAC) is above .08%, you are not legally allowed to drive. If you are unsure whether or not you are over the legal limit, it is important to have a designated driver take you home, spend the night with a friend, or wait a few hours to sober up before hitting the road.

Many BAC charts are available to help a person estimate his or her own BAC after a certain number of drinks over a certain amount of time. BAC varies widely from person to person based on many factors, but one of the main determining factors is weight. Therefore, it is possible to get a rough estimate of an average person’s BAC based on their weight.

BAC Estimates Based on Body Weight

If you weigh 120 pounds, your estimated BAC over a period of one hour is:

• One drink: .032
• Two drinks: .064
• Three drinks: .096

If you weigh 180 pounds, your estimated BAC over a period of one hour is:

• One drink: .021
• Two drinks: .042
• Three drinks: .063
• Four drinks: .084

Remember that it is impossible to calculate a person’s BAC with complete accuracy without a blood test. Other tests and indicators, such as charts, breathalyzers, and urine tests, rely on a formula to help estimate the amount of alcohol in your system. Despite this, it is important to stay aware of how many drinks you consume and what types of drinks you consume in order to estimate your own level of impairment and make informed driving decisions.

Contact Us

If you have been charged with DUI, Rhode Island drunk driving defense lawyer James Powderly can help you. Contact him today at 401-662-9006.