Estimate your current %BAC (blood alcohol concentration) and how long it will take until you are sober (ie. your BAC drops to zero)
Updated: November 15, 2022
Note: the legal BAC limit for driving a motor vehicle varies between countries.
In the USA, the FMCSA-established federal DUI limit is 0.04% BAC. The state-level intoxication status is set at 0.08%, with the sole exception of Utah (0.05%), but this can be much lower if you're under 21 and there may be a second BAC threshold that leads to higher penalties (as well as differences in the penalties themselves, including mandatory jail time in states like Georgia or Arizona).
Tip: For more info, see Table 1.
The most accurate method to measure the %BAC is by using a breathalyzer. The results on this page are a rough estimation computed using a formula based on alcohol pharmaco-kinetics research by E.M.P. Widmark. This formula tries to be as accurate as possible and adapts to gender and body weight, but it does not take into account advanced factors that may influence the BAC such as age, amount of food ingested and so on.
Tip: See Table 2 for a brief description of the effects of alcohol on the human body, broken down by BAC levels.
Q: How quickly does my BAC decrease?
A: Once you've stopped drinking, your body will typically metabolize alcohol at a rate of 0.016% BAC per hour, regardless of the type of beverage. This will take longer as the amount of alcohol you've absorbed increases.
Q: Can I speed up alcohol metabolism?
A: NO. There isn't any real trick to lower your BAC faster than normal. Once the alcohol is absorbed into your system, that's it. The only thing you can do is have something to eat BEFORE you start drinking, as it will help your liver break down alcohol slightly faster.
Q: Can I slow down alcohol absorption?
A: Eating before drinking, pacing your alcohol intake over a longer period of time and staying hydrated will help, but not dramatically. The most effective method is to simply go with drinks that have a lower alcohol content.
Average individual appears normal
Mild euphoria, talkativeness, decreased inhibitions, decreased attention, impaired judgment, increased reaction time
Emotional instability, loss of critical judgment, impairment of memory and comprehension, decreased sensory response, mild muscular incoordination
Confusion, dizziness, exaggerated emotions (anger, fear, grief) impaired visual perception, decreased pain sensation, impaired balance, staggering gait, slurred speech, moderate muscular incoordination
Apathy, impaired consciousness, stupor, significantly decreased response to stimulation, severe muscular incoordination, inability to stand or walk, vomiting, incontinence of urine and feces
Unconsciousness, depressed or abolished reflexes, abnormal body temperature, coma; possible death from respiratory paralysis
| State | BAC Level for DUI Under 21 | BAC Level for Enhanced Penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 0.02 | N/A |
| Alaska | 0 | 0.15 |
| Arizona | 0 | 0.15 |
| Arkansas | 0.02 | 0.15 |
| California | 0.02 | 0.16 |
| Colorado | 0.02 | 0.17 |
| Connecticut | 0.02 | 0.16 |
| Delaware | 0.02 | 0.15 |
| D.C. | 0 | 0.15 |
| Florida | 0.02 | 0.15 |
| Georgia | 0.02 | 0.15 |
| Hawaii | 0.02 | 0.15 |
| Idaho | 0.02 | 0.2 |
| Illinois | 0 | 0.16 |
| Indiana | 0.02 | 0.15 |
| Iowa | 0.02 | 0.15 |
| Kansas | 0.02 | 0.15 |
| Kentucky | 0.02 | 0.18 |
| Louisiana | 0.02 | 0.15 |
| Maine | 0 | 0.15 |
| Maryland | 0.02 | N/A |
| Massachusetts | 0.02 | 0.2 |
| Michigan | 0.02 | 0.17 |
| Minnesota | 0 | 0.16 |
| Mississippi | 0.02 | N/A |
| Missouri | 0.02 | 0.15 |
| Montana | 0.02 | N/A |
| Nebraska | 0.02 | 0.15 |
| Nevada | 0.02 | 0.18 |
| New Hampshire | 0.02 | 0.18 |
| New Jersey | 0.01 | 0.1 |
| New Mexico | 0.02 | 0.16 |
| New York | 0.02 | 0.18 |
| North Carolina | 0 | 0.15 |
| North Dakota | 0.02 | 0.18 |
| Ohio | 0.02 | 0.17 |
| Oklahoma | 0.02 | 0.17 |
| Oregon | 0 | N/A |
| Pennsylvania | 0.02 | 0.16 |
| Rhode Island | 0.02 | 0.15 |
| South Carolina | 0.02 | 0.16 |
| South Dakota | 0.02 | 0.17 |
| Tennessee | 0.02 | 0.2 |
| Texas | 0.02 | 0.15 |
| Utah | 0.02 | 0.16 |
| Vermont | 0.02 | N/A |
| Virginia | 0.02 | 0.15 |
| Washington | 0.02 | 0.15 |
| West Virginia | 0.02 | 0.15 |
| Wisconsin | 0.02 | 0.15 |
| Wyoming | 0.02 | 0.15 |