Calculating BAC

Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) is the scientific metric used to quantify the amount of alcohol present in your bloodstream. Understanding how to calculate this figure can be vital in various social and legal situations, whether you are preparing to leave a bar or restaurant, or if you find yourself stopped by police and arrested for Driving Under the Influence (DUI). During a traffic stop for suspected DUI, law enforcement officers will typically ask you to perform a series of standard field sobriety tests. These physical tasks often include standing on one leg for a duration, tracking a light or stimulus with your eyes, or walking heel-to-toe in a perfectly straight line. If you struggle or fail these evaluations, the officer will likely suspect impairment due to drugs or alcohol. In such cases, they will request further, more precise testing, such as a breathalyzer, urine analysis, or a chemical blood test.

What Is Blood Alcohol Concentration?

When you consume alcoholic beverages, the alcohol is absorbed by your digestive system and enters your bloodstream. As you continue to drink, the concentration of alcohol in your blood rises accordingly. In the state of Pennsylvania, the legal limit for intoxication for most adult drivers is set at 0.08 percent. Exceeding this limit while operating a vehicle can result in serious criminal charges. A BAC test specifically measures the weight of alcohol in your system, with a result of 0.08 indicating 0.08 grams of alcohol for every 100 ml of blood. If you are facing charges based on these metrics, consulting a Morgantown criminal lawyer can help you understand the specific evidence against you.

For individuals who are under the legal drinking age, the laws are significantly stricter. Pennsylvania enforces a zero-tolerance policy regarding underage DUI. This means that for any driver under 21, a BAC reading of just 0.02 percent or higher is sufficient for an automatic DUI charge.

What Factors Affect BAC?

Everyone metabolizes alcohol differently. Several physiological and situational factors play a role in how high your BAC rises. A Morgantown DUI attorney will often review these specific factors to see if they impacted your sobriety test results:

• Gender: generally, women will reach a higher BAC than men after consuming the same amount of alcohol. This is primarily because women tend to have a smaller average physique and different body composition compared to men.
• Body Fat: Individuals with higher body fat content often experience a higher BAC. This occurs because fatty tissue does not absorb alcohol as effectively as other body tissues, leaving more alcohol in the bloodstream.
• Empty Stomach: Consuming alcohol without eating is a major factor. Not eating before drinking leads to a higher BAC compared to individuals who enjoyed a meal with their drinks. Food in the stomach slows down the rate of alcohol absorption, resulting in a lower overall concentration.
• Body Size: Smaller and lighter individuals will usually have a higher BAC compared to their larger and heavier counterparts. In a smaller body, alcohol has less space and fluid volume to distribute itself.

Determining BAC

To estimate your BAC, it is important to understand the alcohol content found in standard drinks. One “standard drink” is generally equivalent to one 5-ounce glass of wine, a single 1.5-ounce shot of liquor or distilled spirits, or one 12-ounce beer. The strength varies: wine typically contains 15 to 20 percent alcohol, liquor ranges from 30 to 50 percent, and beer usually contains about 4 to 4.5 percent. Mixed drinks can be surprisingly potent; for example, a Long Island Iced Tea combines five types of alcohol and has an alcohol content of roughly 22 percent. If you are unsure if your consumption was accurately reflected in police reports, a Morgantown criminal lawyer can assist in reviewing the facts.

To calculate your BAC scientifically, you need to know the duration of your drinking session, the number of ounces of alcohol consumed, the alcohol percentage in the drinks, and your body weight.

Using Widmark’s Formula

Forensic experts often use Widmark’s Formula to determine BAC. This formula is:

BAC = (ounces of alcohol consumed * 5.14 / weight in pounds * gender constant) – .015 * hours since drinking began.

The “gender constant” for alcohol distribution is 0.66 for women and 0.73 for men. This calculation is complex, and errors can occur. A Morgantown DUI attorney can help verify if law enforcement applied these calculations correctly in your case.

Example Calculation

Let’s look at a practical example. Suppose you are a 150-pound adult woman who has consumed two 12-ounce beers over the last two hours.

• % BAC = (1.20 x 5.14 / 150 x 0.66) – 0.015 x 2
• % BAC = (6.168 / 99) – 0.03
• % BAC = 0.062 – 0.03
• % BAC = 0.032

In this scenario, the result is 0.032 percent. This is below the legal limit of 0.08 percent for adults and indicates that you are not legally intoxicated. However, interpreting these results can be difficult without legal training. A Morgantown criminal lawyer can help you navigate the legal implications of your specific numbers.

Do This When Your BAC Is Too High

It is crucial to remember that you must comply with the legal requirement of taking a BAC test if requested by police. Refusing a blood or breath test will result in an automatic license suspension and an additional criminal charge on your record. If you find yourself arrested for DUI, seek the immediate assistance of a seasoned legal professional. A Morgantown DUI attorney can protect your rights and help build your defense.

Contact Mountaineer Law Group

If you are facing charges of Driving Under the Influence, you deserve the expertise of an experienced and knowledgeable criminal defense team. At Mountaineer Law Group, we have successfully handled numerous DUI cases in Berks County and across Pennsylvania. Our services extend to Pittsburgh, West Virginia, and Ohio. Contact us today for an initial consultation at (304) 381-3656 or visit our website to get in touch with a skilled Morgantown criminal lawyer.