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How to Determine Blood Alcohol Content

Blood alcohol content lets you know roughly a person's level of intoxication. In most U.S. jurisdictions, when your BAC exceeds 0.08 grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood you are legally intoxicated and subject to arrest. You can calculate your approximate BAC without a breathalyzer or blood test.

Things You'll Need

  • Calculator
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Instructions

  1. Calculating Blood Alcohol Content

    • 1

      Determine the number of drinks you've had. One drink equals 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1 ounce of hard liquor (80 to 100 proof). Therefore, a triple shot of whiskey, a glass of wine, and six beers equals 10 drinks.

    • 2

      Multiply your number of drinks by the following numbers, depending on your weight:

      100 pounds - 0.0375

      120 pounds - 0.03

      140 pounds - 0.027

      160 pounds - 0.023

      180 pounds - 0.021

      200 pounds - 0.019

      220 pounds - 0.017

      240 pounds - 0.016

    • 3

      Subtract 0.015 per hour since you started drinking from the number you got in step 2. This factor represents how fast most people metabolize alcohol. If you are a 160-pound person downing 6 drinks in 2 hours, your estimated BAC is 0.108.

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