Health Center

Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)

Blood alcohol content (BAC) refers to the ratio of alcohol to blood in the bloodstream. It also accurately reflects the level of alcohol in the entire body. BAC is influenced by a number of factors: gender, weight, number of drinks consumed, and speed of consumption. The following tables provide estimated BAC for men and women based on weight (source: CSU Department of Alcohol and Drug Education and Prevention) .

Men’s BAC Estimation Chart

Drinks	100 lbs	120 lbs	140 lbs	160 lbs	180 lbs	200 lbs	220 lbs	240 lbs
0	.00	.00	.00	.00	.00	.00	.00	.00	Only Safe Driving Limit
1	.04	.03	.03	.02	.02	.02	.02	.02	Driving Skills Impaired
2	.08	.06	.05	.05	.04	.04	.03	.03
3	.11	.09	.08	.07	.06	.06	.05	.05
4	.15	.12	.11	.09	.08	.08	.07	.06
5	.19	.16	.13	.12	.11	.09	.09	.08
6	.23	.19	.16	.14	.13	.11	.10	.09	Legally Intoxicated
7	.26	.22	.19	.16	.15	.13	.12	.11
8	.30	.25	.21	.19	.17	.15	.14	.13
9	.34	.28	.24	.21	.19	.17	.15	.14
10	.38	.31	.27	.23	.21	.19	.17	.16	Possible Death

1 drink equals roughly 1 shot, 1 12oz. beer, or 1 5oz. glass wine.

Women’s BAC Estimation Chart

Drinks	100 lbs	120 lbs	140 lbs	160 lbs	180 lbs	200 lbs	220 lbs	240 lbs
0	.00	.00	.00	.00	.00	.00	.00	.00	Only Safe Driving Limit
1	.05	.04	.03	.03	.03	.02	.02	.02	Driving Skills Impaired
2	.09	.08	.07	.06	.05	.05	.04	.04
3	.14	.11	.10	.09	.08	.07	.06	.06
4	.18	.15	.13	.11	.10	.09	.08	.08
5	.23	.19	.16	.14	.13	.11	.10	.09
6	.27	.23	.19	.17	.15	.14	.12	.11	Legally Intoxicated
7	.32	.27	.23	.20	.18	.16	.14	.13
8	.36	.30	.26	.23	.20	.18	.17	.15
9	.41	.34	.29	.26	.23	.20	.19	.17
10	.45	.38	.32	.28	.25	.23	.21	.19	Possible Death

1 drink equals roughly 1 shot, 1 12oz. beer, or 1 5oz. glass wine.

What do these numbers mean?

Blood Alcohol Concentration	Changes in Feelings and Personality	Physical and Mental Impairments
0.01 — 0.06	Relaxation Sense of Well-being Loss of Inhibition Lowered Alertness Joyous	Thought Judgment Coordination Concentration
0.06 — 0.10	Blunted Feelings Disinhibition Extroversion Impaired Sexual Pleasure	Reflexes Impaired Reasoning Depth Perception Distance Acuity Peripheral Vision Glare Recovery
0.11 — 0.20	Over-Expression Emotional Swings Angry or Sad Boisterous	Reaction Time Gross Motor Control Staggering Slurred Speech
0.21 — 0.29	Stupor Lose Understanding Impaired Sensations	Severe Motor Impairment Loss of Consciousness Memory Blackout
0.30 — 0.39	Severe Depression Unconsciousness Death Possible	Bladder Function Breathing Heart Rate
>= 0.40	Unconsciousness Death	Breathing Heart Rate