Blood alcohol concentration, or BAC, also known as blood alcohol level, or BAL, is a measurement of how much alcohol is in the blood. It is measured by how many milligrams of alcohol are present in 100 milliliters of blood. In most states, a BAC greater than .10 is considered drunk, and in Florida, it is 0.08, and operating a commercial vehicle with a BAC of .04 or higher will get your license suspended at a minimum. Here are a few additional facts you might not know about BAC:
1. You Already Consented to Have Your BAC Tested
When you first got your license, you have what is known as “implied consent” to have your BAC tested at any time. Refusal to take any BAC tests could actually result in having your license suspended for at least a year.
2. A Field Sobriety Test Cannot Determine BAC
Many people assume a field sobriety test, or the series of exercises used to test a person’s motor skills, are the first step in determining whether a person is too drunk to drive. However, these tests cannot measure intoxication level, or BAC, when a breath test can. The most accurate reading of BAC will come from a blood test. No matter how sober you feel, it is your BAC that matters in the eyes of the law.
3. Mouthwash Can Cause a False BAC Reading
Although a breath test using a breathalyzer is designed only to analyze the air that comes from deep within your lungs, it can read alcohol levels from any extra alcohol in your mouth. This is known as mouth alcohol, and it can come from any substance that contains alcohol, even mouthwash. More importantly, it can lead to an inaccurate breathalyzer test reading.
4. Food Will Not Lower BAC
If you down an energy drink in an attempt to sober up, it might reduce the effects of intoxication, but it will not affect your overall BAC. The same applies with food. Although food might appear to lessen the effects of alcohol, it will only delay the speed it takes for BAC to reach its peak level.
5. Gender Will Impact Your BAC
Besides being smaller on average, women also produce less alcohol dehydrogenase, the enzyme that helps break down alcohol in your system. This can lead to higher BAC levels compared to male counterparts who consumed the same amount of alcohol.
Stressing Over a DUI? Call Laporte, Mulligan & Werner-Watkins
If you are dealing with a DUI, you need to have an experienced attorney on your side to fight for your rights. The first thing you should do is speak with an attorney at Laporte, Mulligan & Werner-Watkins Attorneys at Law. Call today at 727-478-4125 or schedule your free consultation online.