HOW MUCH BOOZE FOR .08% BAC?
WRECK-LESS DRIVING©
by Gunther Doerfert, Auto Safety Columnist
HOW MUCH BOOZE FOR .08% BAC?
NORTH POWNAL, VT.: Audrey S. asks how many alcoholic drinks one can consume to reach the new federal limit of 0.08 percent blood alcohol content (BAC) that defines a vehicle driver as DUI (Diving Under Influence)? She reports that about 18,000 vehicle deaths, adults and children every year are alcohol related
First lets understand that this law, passed by Congress and signed by the President, is effective only in states whose legislature adopts this stricter standard for drunk driving. Those states not having done so by year 2004 have lost a lot of federal highway construction money (I confess, I don't know which, if any).
Oh well, lets get back to Audrey’s question. A 137 pound woman will reach 0.08 BAC with three servings of 1 ounce of liquor, or 3 ounces of wine, or 12 ounces of beer in one hour on an empty stomach. A man of 170 pounds would get there with four servings. Be advised that another factor in amount tolerated is age. Persons in their 60s, 70s, etc might get drunk on lesser amounts in the same amount of time.
Another generalization is that persons in the 60+ age group drink less alcohol on any given occasion than do younger persons. This lower BAC law will do nothing to stop the chronic heavy drinking offenders who continue to drive after loss of license and are let off easy by the courts. But it should give good guidance to the many drivers who believe it is their responsibility to drive safely or not drive.. Also, while the stated BAC is presumptive evidence of DUI, drivers with lower levels can be arrested for DUI by exhibiting other symptoms such as erratic driving or inability to walk a straight line.
The important fact to remember is that even one drink of alcohol affects driving skills, more so for some than for others. Know your personal limit and remain WRECK-LESS.
GHD214 all rights reserved
by Gunther Doerfert, Auto Safety Columnist
HOW MUCH BOOZE FOR .08% BAC?
NORTH POWNAL, VT.: Audrey S. asks how many alcoholic drinks one can consume to reach the new federal limit of 0.08 percent blood alcohol content (BAC) that defines a vehicle driver as DUI (Diving Under Influence)? She reports that about 18,000 vehicle deaths, adults and children every year are alcohol related
First lets understand that this law, passed by Congress and signed by the President, is effective only in states whose legislature adopts this stricter standard for drunk driving. Those states not having done so by year 2004 have lost a lot of federal highway construction money (I confess, I don't know which, if any).
Oh well, lets get back to Audrey’s question. A 137 pound woman will reach 0.08 BAC with three servings of 1 ounce of liquor, or 3 ounces of wine, or 12 ounces of beer in one hour on an empty stomach. A man of 170 pounds would get there with four servings. Be advised that another factor in amount tolerated is age. Persons in their 60s, 70s, etc might get drunk on lesser amounts in the same amount of time.
Another generalization is that persons in the 60+ age group drink less alcohol on any given occasion than do younger persons. This lower BAC law will do nothing to stop the chronic heavy drinking offenders who continue to drive after loss of license and are let off easy by the courts. But it should give good guidance to the many drivers who believe it is their responsibility to drive safely or not drive.. Also, while the stated BAC is presumptive evidence of DUI, drivers with lower levels can be arrested for DUI by exhibiting other symptoms such as erratic driving or inability to walk a straight line.
The important fact to remember is that even one drink of alcohol affects driving skills, more so for some than for others. Know your personal limit and remain WRECK-LESS.
GHD214 all rights reserved
posted by WRECK-LESS at Sunday, August 17, 2008
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