Blood Alcohol Content: How It Works
Why the same drinks affect people differently.
What affects BAC
Body weight, sex, food in the stomach, speed of drinking and medications all matter. Women generally reach higher BAC than men from the same drinks.
Elimination
The liver clears about 0.015 percent BAC per hour. Coffee, showers and fresh air do not speed it up.
Driving
Impairment begins well below the legal limit. The only safe plan is not to drive after drinking.
Try it: Blood Alcohol Content Estimator
Example with sample values. Open the full calculator →
Estimated BAC now0.088 %
Time to 0.005.8 h
Peak BAC0.118 %
This estimate can be wrong by a wide margin. Never drive after drinking: impairment starts well below legal limits, and the limit is 0.08% in most US states and lower elsewhere.
Educational content only. This article does not replace advice from a qualified health professional. Medical disclaimer.