Drunken Driving- Page 181

4-4

According to the American Medical Association, a
180

-

lb. (82 kg) person who drinks three 12

-

ounce 

(355 ml) bottles of beer in an hour will end up with a
BAC of about 0.06 percent. The person would reach the
same BAC by drinking three 4

-

ounce (120 ml) glasses

of wine or three mixed drinks if each had 1

-

1/2 ounces

(45 ml) of a liquor like whiskey, gin or vodka.

It’s the amount of alcohol that counts. For example, 
if the same person drank three double martinis 
(3 ounces or 90 ml of liquor each) within an hour, 
the person’s BAC would be close to 0.12 percent. 
A person who consumes food just before or during
drinking will have a somewhat lower BAC level.

There is a gender difference, too. Women generally 
have a lower relative percentage of body water than
men. Since alcohol is carried in body water, this means
that a woman generally will reach a higher BAC level
than a man of her same body weight when each has the
same number of drinks.

The law in an increasing number of U.S. states, and
throughout Canada, sets the legal limit at 0.08 percent.
In some other countries, the limit is even lower. 
For example, it is 0.05 percent in both France and
Germany. The BAC limit for all commercial drivers in
the United States is 0.04 percent.

The BAC will be over 0.10 percent after three to 
six drinks (in one hour). Of course, as we’ve seen, 
it depends on how much alcohol is in the drinks, 
and how quickly the person drinks them.