autoevolution
 

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.

Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) Calculator

Body weight
LB
  • LB
  • KG
Gender
MALE
  • FEMALE
  • MALE
Started drinking
hours ago
Beverage
BEER
  • BEER
  • WINE
  • SPIRITS
Strength
% alcohol
Quantity
vol (ml)
  add another beverage   
breakdown:
 

Table 1: Alcohol Effects by BAC Level

0.01 0.05  g/1000ml

Average individual appears normal

0.03 0.12  g/1000ml

Mild euphoria, talkativeness, decreased inhibitions, decreased attention, impaired judgment, increased reaction time

0.09 0.25  g/1000ml

Emotional instability, loss of critical judgment, impairment of memory and comprehension, decreased sensory response, mild muscular incoordination

0.18 0.30  g/1000ml

Confusion, dizziness, exaggerated emotions (anger, fear, grief) impaired visual perception, decreased pain sensation, impaired balance, staggering gait, slurred speech, moderate muscular incoordination

0.27 0.40  g/1000ml

Apathy, impaired consciousness, stupor, significantly decreased response to stimulation, severe muscular incoordination, inability to stand or walk, vomiting, incontinence of urine and feces

0.35 0.50  g/1000ml

Unconsciousness, depressed or abolished reflexes, abnormal body temperature, coma; possible death from respiratory paralysis


Table 2: BAC Levels by State

StateBAC Level for DUI Under 21BAC Level for Enhanced Penalty
Alabama0.02N/A
Alaska00.15
Arizona00.15
Arkansas0.020.15
California0.020.16
Colorado0.020.17
Connecticut0.020.16
Delaware0.020.15
D.C.00.15
Florida0.020.15
Georgia0.020.15
Hawaii0.020.15
Idaho0.020.2
Illinois00.16
Indiana0.020.15
Iowa0.020.15
Kansas0.020.15
Kentucky0.020.18
Louisiana0.020.15
Maine00.15
Maryland0.02N/A
Massachusetts0.020.2
Michigan0.020.17
Minnesota00.16
Mississippi0.02N/A
Missouri0.020.15
Montana0.02N/A
Nebraska0.020.15
Nevada0.020.18
New Hampshire0.020.18
New Jersey0.010.1
New Mexico0.020.16
New York0.020.18
North Carolina00.15
North Dakota0.020.18
Ohio0.020.17
Oklahoma0.020.17
Oregon0N/A
Pennsylvania0.020.16
Rhode Island0.020.15
South Carolina0.020.16
South Dakota0.020.17
Tennessee0.020.2
Texas0.020.15
Utah0.020.16
Vermont0.02N/A
Virginia0.020.15
Washington0.020.15
West Virginia0.020.15
Wisconsin0.020.15
Wyoming0.020.15