After a night of drinking, what will your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level look like and how will that impact your ability to safely drive? Your BAC measures the amount of alcohol present in your bloodstream, which will directly alter your ability to perform careful tasks like driving. Being over the legal limit can have serious legal and safety consequences, so it is important to know how to estimate your BAC and when to not get behind the wheel.
Remember: Designated Sober Drivers Are Always the Safest Option
While different tools and strategies can help you estimate your BAC, none are foolproof. The safest and most reliable plan is to arrange for a sober driver, use a rideshare service, or take public transportation after drinking. A designated driver who abstains from consuming alcohol entirely will always have a BAC of 0.00, so you will never need to second-guess your ability to safely drive.
Alcohol impairs judgment, often making it difficult to truly assess your condition, too. By planning ahead for a sober ride, you eliminate the risk of making inaccurate BAC estimations.
Using the Drink Wheel for a Quick BAC Estimate
One of the easiest and most convenient methods to estimate your BAC is the Drink Wheel, an online tool designed to give an approximate BAC level based on a few key factors.
To use the Drink Wheel BAC Calculator, you’ll be asked to input information such as:
- Your weight
- Your sex
- How much alcohol you've consumed
- Type of alcohol you drank
- Time that has passed since you started drinking
The Drink Wheel uses this data to generate an approximate BAC level. While it’s a helpful tool, it’s important to remember that the result is only an estimate. Variables such as individual metabolism, medications, and health conditions can impact your actual BAC. Despite these limitations, the Drink Wheel can be a useful starting point to gauge whether you are approaching or exceeding the legal BAC threshold.
Relying on Personal Breathalyzers for Precision
For a more accurate and reliable way to assess your BAC, consider investing in a personal breathalyzer device, which is a portable device designed to measure the alcohol content in your breath and provide a BAC reading comparable to those used by law enforcement. Many models are compact, easy to use, and produce results within seconds.
When shopping for a personal breathalyzer, look for models that have been certified or reviewed for accuracy. Major retailers such as Amazon and Best Buy offer a variety of options, but they are sold by many vendors. Keep in mind that even higher-quality personal breathalyzers can’t guarantee 100% accuracy when calculating BAC levels, which is also true about the breathalyzers used by law enforcement and highway patrol officers.
Counting Drinks and Considering Body Weight and Time
Another way to estimate your BAC is by keeping track of your alcohol consumption, along with factors like your body weight and the time elapsed since your first drink. While this method is less precise, it still provides a general idea of where your BAC might fall.
Key points to consider when trying to get a rough BAC estimate in this way include:
- What counts as a standard drink:
- One standard drink contains about 14 grams of pure alcohol, which is roughly equal to:
- 12 ounces of beer (5% alcohol)
- 5 ounces of wine (12% alcohol)
- 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits (40% alcohol)
- One standard drink contains about 14 grams of pure alcohol, which is roughly equal to:
- Typical BAC thresholds:
- On average, most people are legally or functionally intoxicated after four standard drinks in one night. However, your BAC depends on several factors, including your body weight, metabolism, and sex, so intoxication can happen sooner.
- Time elapsed:
- Alcohol takes time to metabolize. If you drink several beverages quickly, your BAC will rise faster than if you spread them out over a longer period.
It’s important to note that even if you feel sober, your BAC may still be above the legal limit or high enough to affect your motor skills. Also, if your BAC is above the legal limit, you can be charged with a DUI, even if you show no signs of impaired driving.
How Long Does It Take to Sober Up?
Many people wonder how long it takes to “sober up” and what can be done to speed this process up. The answer is straightforward, though: time is the only factor that reliably lowers BAC. On average, the liver metabolizes alcohol at a rate of about 0.015% BAC per hour or roughly one standard drive of alcohol (see above) per hour. This rate means that if your BAC is 0.08%, it could take longer than five hours for your body to process the alcohol and return to a BAC of 0.00.
You might have also heard these myths about sobering up:
- Drinking water won’t lower your BAC. While staying hydrated can reduce symptoms of a hangover, it does not speed up alcohol metabolism.
- Eating food before or during drinking can slow alcohol absorption, but consuming food after drinking won’t reduce your BAC once alcohol is already in your system.
- Cold showers and caffeine may make you feel more alert, but they have no impact on your BAC levels.
The best approach is to give your body the time it needs to fully metabolize the alcohol before attempting to drive.
If Pulled Over in Colorado: Understanding Your Rights
Despite taking every precaution to estimate your BAC and drive sober, mistakes happen. If you’re pulled over or arrested for DUI in Colorado, you should already know your rights.
Colorado has strict express consent laws, meaning you are required to submit to a chemical test (breath, blood, or urine) if an officer has reasonable suspicion that you are driving under the influence. Refusing the test can result in administrative penalties such as license suspension and other legal consequences. Also, administrative penalties aren’t processed through the criminal justice system, so you don’t have the same options and methods to defend against them as you do when charged with a crime.
If you find yourself pulled over after a night of drinking, try to keep in mind:
- You have the right to remain silent: You are not obligated to answer questions beyond providing basic identification.
- You have the right to consult with an attorney: Contacting a qualified DUI defense attorney can help you understand your next steps and protect your legal rights from being overlooked by the state.
- You have the right to challenge the evidence against you: Breath and blood tests are not infallible. Factors like improper calibration of devices or medical conditions can impact the results.
At The Orr Law Firm, we focus on DUI defense and have extensive experience navigating Colorado’s legal system for drivers accused of crimes and traffic violations. If you’ve been arrested and charged with a DUI, reach out to us for legal counsel that understands what you’re going through and what you’re fighting to protect. With years of experience and a lengthy history of impressive case results, you know that you can trust our Denver DUI lawyers with your case.
Call (303) 747-4247 or contact us online at any time to schedule a consultation.
(Disclaimer: All BAC charts and calculators are for estimation purposes only and provide only rough estimates of average BAC levels for the average person. Even personal-use breathalyzer devices can be inaccurate. Many variables determine BAC levels that cannot be easily taken into account, especially in a chart. BAC estimates should not be used to infer anyone's ability to operate a motor vehicle safely.)