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Driving under the influence and absorption of alcohol

We often hear the terms “BAC”, “Blood Alcohol Content” or “Blood Alcohol Level” when we read the news or hear criminal defense attorneys speak on television about DUI arrests or serious car accidents, but what about does it really mean BAC? The level of alcohol in a person’s body can be measured by a blood or breath test.

Over the years, breath measuring devices, such as the Datamaster, have become the most popular choice for law enforcement agencies. A test of .08, or eight hundredths of a gram or more by weight of alcohol per one hundred milliliters of blood or eight hundredths of a gram or more by weight of alcohol per two hundred and ten liters of breath, is the typical start. threshold for a DUI offense in most jurisdictions.

The question again then is what does .08 mean? To answer this question, we must briefly analyze how the body absorbs alcohol. Normally, alcohol is ingested by mouth. When alcohol is ingested, the membranes of the mouth absorb some of the alcohol; however, most of the alcohol travels down the esophagus into the stomach. The alcohol is then absorbed in the duodenum or small intestine. Finally, the alcohol reaches the general circulation. When we feel the effects of alcohol, or the feeling of intoxication, it is because alcohol is circulating through our body and affecting our brain.

The body absorbs alcohol at approximately 0.02 per drink. A “drink” is defined as one ounce of 80 proof alcohol, a regular 12-ounce beer with approximately 5 percent alcohol, or four ounces of unfortified wine. Therefore, it is not surprising that a person begins to feel the effects of alcohol earlier when drinking hard liquor instead of light beer.

It takes 30 to 60 minutes for alcohol to be fully absorbed after it has been ingested, and there are other factors that affect how quickly alcohol is absorbed, including a person’s size and whether or not that person is drinking heavily. a full or empty stomach. So if an average-sized person is drinking regular twelve-ounce cans of Bud Light on an empty stomach, we can estimate that if that person drinks three or four beers in an hour-long period of time, their blood alcohol level will probably will be close to. . Now, we must also take into account the fact that the body is eliminating alcohol as it is absorbed. That is why it is often said that as long as a person consumes between one and two regular drinks per hour, their blood alcohol level should remain below. That being said, even a small amount of alcohol in your system can result in slower reflexes and deterioration, and many auto accident injury claims occur because someone was driving while drunk. It is always best to avoid getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol.

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