Calculating BAC

Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) is a crucial measure of alcohol in your bloodstream. Whether you’re planning to leave a bar, restaurant, or have been stopped for Driving Under the Influence (DUI), knowing your BAC is essential. In DUI cases, law enforcement may ask you to perform various field sobriety tests, such as standing on one leg, following a light, or walking heel-to-toe in a straight line. Failing these tests can raise suspicions of drug or alcohol impairment, leading to further testing like a breath or chemical (blood or urine) test.

What is Blood Alcohol Concentration?

When you consume alcoholic beverages, the alcohol enters your bloodstream, increasing its concentration. In most states, including Pennsylvania, the legal limit for adults is 0.08 percent BAC. Going over this limit can result in a DUI charge. BAC tests precisely measure the alcohol content in your blood, with a BAC of 0.08 indicating 0.08 grams of alcohol per 100 ml of blood.

Pennsylvania has a zero-tolerance policy for underage DUI, meaning any BAC of 0.02 percent or higher leads to an automatic DUI charge if you’re under the legal drinking age.

What Factors Affect BAC?

• Gender: Women generally have a higher BAC than men who consume the same amount of alcohol due to their smaller physique.
• Body Fat: Higher body fat content can result in a higher BAC as body fat doesn’t absorb alcohol as effectively as other tissues.
• Empty Stomach: Drinking on an empty stomach can lead to a higher BAC compared to consuming alcohol with a meal. Food presence in the stomach slows down alcohol absorption, resulting in a lower BAC.
• Body Size: Smaller and lighter individuals typically have a higher BAC compared to larger and heavier individuals. Alcohol has less space to spread out in smaller bodies.

Determining BAC

To determine your Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC), it’s important to understand the alcohol content in different drinks. For reference, a drink can be a 5-ounce glass of wine, a 1.5-ounce shot of liquor, or a 12-ounce beer. Wine usually contains 15-20% alcohol, liquor ranges from 30-50%, and beer has about 4-4.5%.

To calculate your BAC, consider the duration of your drinking session, the ounces of alcohol consumed, the alcohol percentage, and your weight. Widmark’s Formula can help you find your BAC:

BAC = (ounces of alcohol * 5.14 / weight in pounds * gender constant) – 0.015 * hours since drinking began.

The gender constant for alcohol distribution is 0.66 for women and 0.73 for men. For instance, let’s say you’re a 150-pound woman who had two 12-ounce beers in the last two hours…

%BAC = (1.20 * 5.14 / 150 * 0.66) – 0.015 * 2

%BAC = (6.168 / 99) – 0.03

%BAC = 0.062 – 0.03

%BAC = 0.032 (Below the legal limit of 0.08%, meaning you’re not legally intoxicated)

Do This When Your BAC Is Too High

Remember, it’s crucial to comply with the legal requirement for a BAC test. Refusing the test will lead to license suspension and additional charges. If arrested for DUI, seek immediate assistance from a seasoned Washington PA DUI attorney.

If you’re facing charges of Driving Under the Influence, you deserve the expertise of an experienced and knowledgeable Washington PA criminal attorney. At Logue Law Group, we handle DUI cases successfully and serve Washington, PA, West Virginia, and Ohio. Contact us today for an initial consultation at 412.389.0805 or visit our website to get in touch.