| BAC |
Typical Effects |
| 0.00% |
No alcohol in the bloodstream. |
| 0.01–0.03% |
Very mild effects, slight relaxation or mood change. |
| 0.04–0.06% |
Reduced judgment and coordination, lowered inhibitions |
| 0.07–0.08% |
Noticeable impairment, poorer reaction time and concentration - Around 0.08% is often the legal driving limit |
| 0.09–0.15% |
Clear intoxication, slurred speech, poor balance, difficulty thinking clearly |
| 0.16–0.30% |
Severe impairment, confusion, nausea, possible blackouts |
| 0.30% and above |
Dangerous level, risk of unconsciousness, alcohol poisoning, or death |
In simple terms:
BAC levels are just categories that show how much alcohol is in your blood and how strongly it is affecting you.
How quickly BAC rises
After you drink alcohol:
- Alcohol is absorbed through the stomach and small intestine.
- BAC usually starts rising within 10–20 minutes.
- It often peaks around 30–90 minutes after drinking, depending on:
- Whether you ate food (food slows absorption)
- How fast you drank
- Your body size and metabolism
So even if you stop drinking, your BAC can still go up for a while.
How BAC goes back down
Your body removes alcohol at a pretty steady rate using the liver.
- Average elimination rate: ~0.015% BAC per hour
- Some people: ~0.010%/hour (slower)
- Others (rarely): up to ~0.020%/hour (faster)
That means:
A BAC of 0.08% typically takes about 5–6 hours to fully clear (sometimes longer)
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