Blood Alcohol Content (BAC): What's the Big Deal?
What exactly is blood alcohol content (BAC) and what does it have to do with me? BAC is the concentration of alcohol in the blood. A breathalyzer device measures the content of alcohol in the blood with a number system (a 0.000 reading indicates there is no alcohol present; any number beyond that identifies the presence of alcohol).
Any amount of alcohol in the blood can lead to poor judgment and slowed reflexes. People who drink similar amounts of alcohol may experience different effects and BAC levels. These effects and BAC levels are influenced by factors like body weight, the amount of food eaten while drinking, and alcohol tolerance.
So here’s the big deal:
| BAC | Observable Effects | |
|
0.02
|
= |
Relaxation, slight body warmth
|
|
0.05
|
= |
Sedation, slowed reaction time
|
|
0.10
|
= |
Slurred speech, poor coordination, slowed thinking
|
|
0.20
|
= |
Trouble walking, double vision, nausea, vomiting
|
|
0.30
|
= |
May pass out, tremors, memory loss, cool body temperature
|
|
0.40
|
= |
Trouble breathing, coma, possible death
|
|
0.50 and greater
|
= |
Death
|
*BAC information retrieved 21 Mar 2017 from http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/blood-alcohol#2
Visit your installation Substance Abuse Counseling Center for more information, education, services, or assistance with alcohol, alcohol misuse, and addiction.