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 What
is BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration)?
What are BAC Zones?
The Ups and Downs of Alcohol
What
is BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration)?
BAC is the amount of alcohol in your blood stream. It is recorded
in milligrams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood, or milligrams
percent. For example, a BAC of 0.10 means that 1/10 of 1 percent
(or 1/1000) of your total blood content is alcohol. When you drink,
alcohol goes directly from the stomach into the blood stream.
This is why you typically feel the effects of alcohol quite quickly,
especially if you haven’t eaten in a while. BAC is affected
by:
1) Body weight (blood volume increases with weight)
2) The amount of alcohol consumed
3) The concentration of alcohol per drink
4) Time spent drinking
5) Age, ethnicity, hormones and certain medications
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What are BAC Zones?
On B.A.C.ZONE cards, each zone represents effects that would be
expected to occur at these levels of blood alcohol concentration.
Individual effects may vary.
There is no known safe level of alcohol in the blood when driving
a motor vehicle or engaging in other potentially risky activities,
such as swimming, boating and using power tools or firearms. If
you have one or more drinks before such activities, allow enough
time to pass so that your blood alcohol level returns to zero
before you begin.
There is no known safe level of drinking for women who are pregnant
or trying to become pregnant.
GREEN
ZONE BAC: 0.00-0.059
Effects: Light and moderate drinkers begin
to feel mildly relaxed and maybe a little lightheaded. Inhibitions
are slightly loosened, and your mood may mildly intensify.
Your behavior may become exaggerated, making you talk louder
or faster or act bolder than usual. You may also feel a mild
sense of euphoria. |
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BLUE ZONE BAC: 0.060-0.24
Effects: Between
0.06 and 0.08, you believe you are functioning better than
you actually are. At this level, you may start to slur your
speech. Your sense of balance is probably off, and your
motor skills are starting to become impaired. Your ability
to see and hear clearly is diminished. Your judgment is
affected so it's difficult for you to decide whether or
not to continue drinking. Your ability to evaluate sexual
situations is impaired. Some may jokingly refer to this
state of mind as "beer goggles." You are more
likely to take risks and are unable to judge accurately
your ability to drive.
BAC: 0.080
Effects: Legally intoxicated in most states.
Your judgment is further impaired. You are more likely to
take risks and are unable to accurately assess your ability
to drive.
BAC: 0.10 - 0.15
Effects: Legally intoxicated in almost
all nations and states. You feel euphoric but lack coordination
and balance. Your motor skills are markedly impaired, as
are your judgment and memory. You probably don't remember
how many drinks you've had. Your emotions are exaggerated,
and you may become loud, aggressive or belligerent. Men
may have trouble getting an erection. Reaction time and
control of precise movements are clearly impaired. A person
driving at this level is 10 times more likely to be involved
in a fatal accident.
BAC: 0.16 - 0.24
Effects: The equivalent of about one-half
pint of whiskey is circulating in your bloodstream. Your
euphoric feelings may give way to unpleasant feelings. You
have difficulty talking, walking or even standing. Your
judgment and perception are severely impaired. You may become
more aggressive, and there is an increased risk of accidentally
injuring yourself or others. You may get the kind of amnesia
known as an alcoholic "blackout.” A person driving
at this BAC is 100 times more likely to be involved in a
fatal accident. |
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RED ZONE 0.250 and above
BAC: 0.250
Effects: All mental, physical and sensory
functions are severely impaired. You're emotionally numb.
There's an increased risk of asphyxiation from choking on
vomit and of seriously injuring yourself by falling or having
other accidents. Many people lose consciousness.
BAC: 0.300
Effects: You're in a stupor. You have little
comprehension of where you are. You may suddenly pass out
(passing out is a normal protective reaction of the body
to prevent continued drinking) and be difficult to awaken.
(Passing out can also occur at lower BACs. But, at lower
BACs, you may decide you've had enough to drink and "pass
out." At 0.30, your body will decide to pass out for
you.)
BAC: 0.350
Effects: The level of surgical anesthesia.
BAC: 0.400
Effects: You may stop breathing. Most people
lose consciousness. The nerve centers controlling your heartbeat
and respiration slow down.
BAC: 0.450
Effects: This is a fatal dose for many
people, especially when drinking a large amount of alcohol
at a rapid rate. A dose of alcohol this large can paralyze
brain functions, which control breathing and heart activity.
When your vital functions cease, you die. This is a serious
risk for those who engage in drinking contests, the most
frequent cause of alcohol-related fatalities among young
people.
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The
Ups and Downs of Alcohol
As you consume alcohol in low to moderate amounts and as your
BAC is rising and below 0.06, you will likely experience the positive
effects of alcohol (increases in arousal, energy and confidence).
This is due to the increased amount of sugar from alcohol, as
well as the alcohol initially depressing those parts of the brain
that are responsible for inhibition.
However, as your BAC surpasses 0.06 (or your BAC begins to fall)
you begin to experience the depressant effects of alcohol (fatigue,
slowing down and lack of coordination). In hopes of avoiding the
depressing effects and regaining the positive effects of alcohol,
you may be tempted to drink more. Unfortunately, this is the worst
thing that you can do. The more alcohol you consume -- and the
higher your BAC -- the more you will experience the depressing
effects of alcohol.
The depressing and negative effects of alcohol can be minimized
by drinking low to moderate amounts of alcohol and staying in
your Green Zone (below 0.06 BAC). Note: Tolerance, although thought
to be a positive characteristic by some, is actually hampering
your experience while you drink. Not only does tolerance make
drinking more expensive in terms of calories and money, but tolerance
also limits the initial positive effects from alcohol and causes
the depressing effects at lower BAC levels.
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