Alcohol is uniformly prominent for ages. Among the rich-classy drinkers to a street-side man with alcoholism, the impact of alcohol on the human body remains the same. Undoubtedly, there stands much different in the first-rate alcoholic beverage and non-recommendable alcohol. From the benefit of mental health through standard drinking to the risk of unconsciousness and death, they are all determined by BAC. What does BAC stands for? The question is mainly asked by the drinkers with health issues. The answer is, BAC stands for Blood Alcohol concentration or Blood Alcohol Content.
Alcohol concentration (BAC) determines the impact of alcohol on the human body, either positive or negative.
Introduction to BAC or Blood Alcohol Concentration/content/level
As per the BAC definition, the Blood Alcohol concentration is a medical term. BAC determines the percentage of pure alcohol (ethanol) in the human bloodstream upon Alcohol consumption.
Indeed, the production of alcohol mainly depends on BAC in the context of ethanol input measurement. During alcohol manufacturing, the ethanol utilized in specific millilitres of the bottle is calculated by BAC.
Alcohol concentration (BAC) as per countries
To the reader’s surprise, the legal percentage of BAC is different in different countries. The drinking and driving law limits are based on the percentage of ethanol in blood.
For example, in the USA (all states), the BAC calculated higher than 0.08% leads to legal consequences. This calculation comes from advanced BAC calculator. Following are the BAC legal limit of different countries—
- Armenia—0%
- Romania—0%
- Jordan—0%
- Czech Republic—0%
Among the above four countries, drinking while driving is a criminal offense, therefore, zero alcohol tolerance policy has been validated.
- China—0.02%
- Sweden—0.02%
- Poland—0.02%
- Serbia—0.02%
- Japan—0.02%
- Australia—0.05%
- Germany—0.05%
- Greece —0.05%
- Thailand—0.05%
- Turkey—0.05%
- South Africa—0.05%
- Finland—0.05%
- Argentina—0.05%
- Switzerland—0.05%
- Taiwan—0.05%
- Hong Kong—0.05%
- India—0.05%
- New Zealand—0.08%
- Singapore—0.08%
- Mexico—0.08%
- United Kingdom—0.08%
- Malaysia—0.08%
- Norway—0.08%
- Singapore—0.08%
- Puerto Rico—0.08%
Which of the following is a key factor that influences bac?
BAC does not only impact the alcoholics in the context of law & order but also health-wise. According to studies, Blood alcohol concentration level depends on many factors.
On one hand where advanced BAC calculator sets the limit for human consumption, blood alcohol level expresses the potential of health risks. Here is the list of key factors which influences BAC. Take a glimpse—
- Individual Drinking Capacity: Alcoholics have different drinking capacities. It is noteworthy to mention that how alcohol generates different health impacts based on the one’s capacity. Alcoholics who consume alcohol at quick speed, their blood alcohol concentration rise at the same pace. For the reader’s knowledge, one’s drinking capacity also expresses the pace of intoxication. What is intoxication? Intoxication is the changes that take place in one’s behavior and body language after alcohol consumption.
How does BAC influences from average to high level?
Medical studies have discovered that the liver handles metabolism during alcohol consumption. A healthy liver can only metabolize one glass of blended alcohol per hour.
In consequence, the liver sends alcohol to the bloodstreams when an immense amount of alcohol is consumed. Thus, the BAC rises from average to high.
How many ozs in a liter? How much oz to drink per hour as per Standard Alcohol drinking?
To keep an average Blood alcohol concentration (BAC), follow-up the following small chart—
- One pint of Beer per hour—12 ounces, contains 5% of ethanol
- One glass of wine per hour—5 ounces, contains 12% of ethanol
- One-shot 80 proof Rum, Vodka, Whiskey per hour—5 ounces, contains 40% ethanol.
Hence, the more consumption of alcohol in an hour leads to more percentage of ethanol in blood.
Gender—Yes! BAC discriminates: Male and female body system looks similar. However, the male and female body are distinct-able based on four important factors in the context of alcohol concentration. These factors are—
- Enzyme Levels
- Hormonal differences
- Fluid Volume
- Body Size and weight
How enzyme levels influence BAC in male and female?
Metabolism, a process of metabolizing the ethanol present in the stomach has been done through enzymes. The level of enzymes in men is more as compared to women. This enzyme is called Gastric alcohol dehydrogenize which breaches about 15% to 20% of alcohol in the male body.
Further, the ethanol that reaches small intestines is comparatively less than what is consumed. In the females, the ethanol reaches small intestines are comparable more than in males.
Therefore, usually Blood alcohol concentration in women is 7% higher than BAC in men, conditions apply!
- What are hormonal differences that determine BAC in men and women?
Women tend to reach higher BAC levels more quickly than women because menstruation in women makes a difference in how alcohol interacts with the hormones.
Among menstruating women, the hormones allow the blood alcohol concentration level to go high in no time. Indeed, the intoxication in women remains longer than in men. This is because the utilization of oral contraceptives generates an imbalance of hormones.
Imbalanced hormonal level disallows the immediate absorption and elimination of alcohol from the body. Thus, in women BAC levels rise more quickly.
- Fluid Volume—Higher in men and lower in women
In women, the fluid volume capacity is only up to 50%, i.e.., the female body cannot handle fluid in the body more than 50%. It leads to nausea and short-term health impacts. On the other hand, in men, the fluid volume capacity is up to 65%. Thus, in men blood alcohol concentration rises slower than women.
- Body Size and Weight
Without a doubt, men and women are quite different when it comes to body size and weight. A man with average height is comparable weigh higher than women with average height. The logic behind the difference is clear. In women, the bone weight is less; muscle weight is less and so on.
As per BAC Chart female, in women, body fat is comparable high. Hence, in men, the blood alcohol concentration level stays low. If we dig in deep, in men the muscle grasp the larger volume of blood.
On the other hand, in women, the body fat absorbs a countable volume of blood. This results in dilution of alcohol quick in man and slower in women which means, alcohol stays for long in women body than men.
Which of the following activities can cause your bac to rise quickly?
- Sexual Engagements
- Stress
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Lack of communication
- Domestic Violence
- Sexual Assault
Note: Above stated activities are psychological effects of alcohol consumption which allows BAC to rise quickly than average pace.
- Blended Alcohol—Cocktails, Liqueurs, Spirits and Wine cooler Drinks: Alcohol blended beverages like wine cooler drinks contain fruit juices and other blended liqueurs. It is noteworthy to mention how fruit juices and other high-carbohydrate liqueurs cause BAC to increase rapidly? In actual fact, the absorption of the alcohol slows down due to mixed carbohydrate fruit juices and drinks. Thus, due to this slow processing of alcohol to the small intestine, the alcohol remains in the stomach for long. It dissolves into the bloodstreams and improves the blood alcohol concentration level quickly. Learn more about Wine cooler drinks.
- Patent Medicine consumption: Medications and consumption of medicines interact with pure alcohol in the human body in a negative form. Patent medicines strengthen the volume of alcohol in the body and cause the liver to reject alcohol absorption after a short-run. This rejection by the liver sends pure alcohol to dissolve into the bloodstreams. It increases the blood alcohol content level quickly than average.
Elimination of pure alcohol from the body through small intestines is complex in the presence of the patent drug in the body. Thus, the effect of the alcohol stay longer and so does intoxication.
Patent Medicines include aspirin, anti-depressants (which causes hormonal imbalance), cough syrups and tranquilizers.
- Immunity against Alcohol: Regular consumption of alcohol generates immunity against alcohol’s short-term effects. Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) increment is one of them. The body of regular drinker becomes able to tolerate a high amount of pure alcohol in the body. In this condition, the blood alcohol concentration rises but the intoxication is rare.
On the other hand, first-time drinkers experience a high blood alcohol concentration level. Thus, the intoxication level is also high.
Note: Among the drinkers with immunity against alcohol, the question mostly rises. It is “at what bac is it illegal for individuals of legal drinking age to operate a motor vehicle?”
The immunity of alcohol does not change the law and order. It is same for every individual of the country. The legal age to consume alcohol is 21. For drinkers with legal age, it is forbidden to drive with a BAC or blood alcohol concentration with more than 0.08%. In many countries, this percentage is less. For instance, in China, it is 0.02% only.
- Empty Stomach and Alcohol consumption: You as an alcohol consumer must have heard “eat before alcohol drinking.” The quote states the significance of food-filled stomach while drinking. It prevents from the short-term effects of alcohol in the human body.
Food in the stomach absorbs the alcohol consumed. It prevents a large percentage of alcohol from reaching the intestines in one go. It leads to less alcohol dissolution into the bloodstreams.
It prevents the human body from high-rate blood alcohol concentration level. this is why does eating before or while drinking reduces the amount your bac will rise!
However, an overfilled stomach can also generate a harmful impact, high intoxication, and blood concentration level. How?
Let’s see. The stomach requires digesting food and pushing it to the large intestines. Overeating causes the stomach to enlarge and come in contact with the pyloric valve. It leaves no distance for the food to digest completely.
Over and above, alcohol consumption when the pyloric valve is already closed blocks the digestion of food as well as alcohol. The liver cannot metabolize alcohol in this condition. Thus, alcohol remains in the bloodstream until the stomach goes back to normal size. This causes BAC to rise and leave high intoxication level in the body.
What are the factors that impact the results of the advance BAC Calculator?
To calculate blood alcohol content or concentration in the human body, the three important factors are gender, amount of alcohol consumed (in ounces or glasses) and body weight. However, the calculation of BAC still influenced by the other factors, following is these factors—
- Health condition
- Medication
- Age of the consumer
- Metabolism Rate
- Category of food consumed
- Hydration level of the body
- Mental and Physical Illness
For instance, individual with physical and mental illness has easy access to high-rate drugged patent medicines. Thus, the consumption of alcohol is harmful to these individuals. In such circumstances, bac rises beyond the limit and lead to death.
How to reduce blood alcohol concentration (BAC)?
Drunk and drive is a criminal offense. It leads to DUI Charges and further legal consequences. Without a doubt, a high intoxication level while drinking can result in unfortunate accidents. Thus, to follow the law & order in BAC context is important.
The Advance BAC calculator has been used to discover the percentage of pure alcohol in the body. Let’s take a glimpse at which of the following strategies will help lower your BAC or Blood alcohol concentration.
Change the drinking method to Standard: According to Standard Drinking habits recommendable, one glass per hour is ideal for health. Standard drinking, i.e.., slow drinking helps in keeping the blood alcohol concentration low. While drinking alcohol slowly, the liver gets enough time to break down. In an hour, liver separates a maximum of 0.30 ounces of pure alcohol from the bloodstream.
For the reader’s information, this process cannot be paced up. Drinking at lofty speed can lead to liver collapsing itself. It is harmful to health and one’s conscious.
Click here to read, how to adapt healthy drinking habits?
Avoid cocktails and blended drinks: Nothing increases blood alcohol concentration quicker than combined drinks. Each kind of alcoholic beverage contains a different percentage of ethanol. Red wine contains 40% of ethanol in a liter. How many ozs in a liter? In a liter of a beer bottle, 14% of ethanol. Similarly, highly alcohol concentrated liqueur contains 37% of pure alcohol.
To simplify, the combination of any of the above drinks into one can lead to high BAC. This is because a high percentage of ethanol reaches in the body. Nevertheless, the combined drinks or cocktail is complex to metabolize as compared to light beer or a single glass of wine. A person’s BAC will go down if they consume light beer in place of highly alcohol concentrated drinks.
Avoid Medications with alcohol: Consumption of alcohol has long-term consequences. Consequences such as alcoholism, cardiovascular diseases, liver failure, and permanent brain damage are commonly known. Mixing medications with alcohol and its consumption improves the potential risks of such health hazards.
Anti-depressants, tranquilizers, and oral contraceptives generate an imbalance in hormones. This active change in hormones reacts to ethanol (pure form of alcohol) and creates chemical toxins in the body. These toxins can be harmful and cause death.
Eat while Drink: Eating snacks while drinking helps in digesting alcohol. Snacks keep absorbing alcohol while consumption and disallow the dilution of ethanol into the bloodstreams. It also lessens the intoxicating effects of alcohol.
An empty stomach and overfilled stomach, both causes Blood alcohol concentration to rise high. With a single glass of wine/pint of beer in an hour, consumption of snacks can help in keeping the BAC low.
What are the risks of High Blood alcohol concentration (BAC)?
A healthy human body can metabolize 0.6 ounces of ethanol in an hour. Regular consumption of alcohol reduces this capacity of the liver to metabolize. In this situation, blood alcohol concentration abbreviated as BAC rises as the alcohol stays for longer in the body system.
Risks of High blood alcohol content are health hazardous. Percentage of BAC does not only increase upon high consumption of alcohol. But, BAC also influenced the factors described earlier—weight, height, body fat, gender, physical and mental illness.
Following are the health risks of high blood alcohol concentration:
- Intoxication: behavioural changes: Intoxication causes loose of anger control. Alcohol consumption raises the BAC. Dilution of alcohol into bloodstreams generates an impact on body and mindfulness. The temperature of the body rises, and hormones change. Hormonal changes cause mood swings. One can become unconscious: entirely out of present mental state.
Behavioural changes are also common in intoxication. One may not able to control different emotions including anger, affection, laugh, stress, and anxiety.
Some alcoholics become violent during intoxication. This nature of violence includes domestic violence, suicidal behaviour, self-harm, sexual assault, violence in public, criminal behaviour and more.
These symptoms of intoxication have been observed at blood alcohol concentration (BAC) 0.02% to 0.05%.
- Short-term small muscle collapse: At BAC higher than 0.05%, one may experience the short-term collapsing of small muscles in the body. Due to this collapsing, short-term vision loss and slow brain function is common. In this situation, it becomes difficult for an individual to think, make decisions, drive, walk, and cook and do anything that requires concentration.
Impulse decisions and actions are common during small muscle collapsing as the brain does not involve its energy in focusing on the thought process. Drunk and Drive is highly observed in many cases of alcohol intoxication. It leads to DUI charges.
- Short-term Memory Loss and Dementia: At BAC higher than or equivalent to 0.08% may results in short-term memory loss. Impaired memory can be dangerous and can leave mental effects on the consumer. High blood alcohol concentration slows down the brain function and collapses small muscles in the body. Presence of alcohol content in bloodstreams attack the brain cells as the oxygen to the brain lessens. It causes short-term dementia.
High BAC is very dangerous among individuals with a genetic history of dementia and Alzheimer’s. The potential risk of permanent dementia is higher among the drinkers with genetic history.
It is noteworthy to mention that in a few countries like the United Kingdom and Australia, the BAC limit is 0.08%.
- Short-term Voluntary muscles breakdown: At BAC between 0.10% and 0.15% causes the short-term breakdown of voluntary muscles. Voluntary muscles are the muscles that allow the uniform movement of the body. This movement includes walking, talking, jumping and more. Voluntary motion with BAC higher than 0.10% can result in unfortunate accidents.
Drunk and drive with a BAC level 0.10% to 0.15% is illegal in all countries.
- Gag Reflex impairment: At BAC between 0.20% and 0.29% may lead to gag reflex impairment. High blood alcohol concentration causes the brain to stop function for short-term (a few hours). A short-term brain dead means that nerves cells are severely damaged in the body. In consequences, vagus nerve and glossopharyngeal nerve damage. It impairs gag reflex. The gag reflex is the contraction of the throat from the backside to protect any object from blocking the windpipe and respiratory system.
In this situation, death becomes a possibility as one can choke to death. Nausea is common in gag reflex impairment. Alongside, one may also suffer from a blackout. It means that one cannot remember what he/she is doing at the moment.
- The potential risk of Cardiac arrest: At BAC between 0.30% and 0.39%, the risk of death increases. According to studies, at such a high blood alcohol content level, the heart functions abnormally fast. Heartbeat rate increases at a level that one can feel it beating inside the body. One may also suffer from uncontrollable bladder control function. Above all, the risk of the damaged respiratory system is high. This is because when the ethanol dilutes into the bloodstreams, there is no more space for oxygen in the body. In such a situation, the body functions abnormally fast. On the other hand, one suffers to breathe.
- Permanent brain damage or Coma: At BAC equivalent to or higher than 0.40% are the most dangerous digits for one’s health. It means that bloodstreams in the body are fully occupied with ethanol, the pure form of alcohol. It leaves no space for oxygen to inhale in the body and exhale carbon dioxide.
In these medical circumstances, one living under the risk of complete brain damage as no oxygen reaches the brain nerves. One may also go into Coma (prolonged state of unconsciousness). Over and above, there is a potential risk of heart stroke where the heart stops beating suddenly.
Which of the following factors does not affect someone’s BAC?
Among the drinkers and those who find protect from DUI charges, many myths go around. One of the myths is “sobering up lowers the blood alcohol concentration.” However, the facts state that the BAC is uncontrollable once an unacceptable amount of alcohol is consumed.
Alcohol remains the system for hours. Unlike drugs, alcohol is undetectable after a few hours. For more information, read how long cocaine stays in the system? Getting back to the point, the following are factors that only sober one up but does not affect someone’s blood alcohol concentration. Let’s dig in—
- Consumption of Caffeine: Caffeine is one of the good strategies to allow the brain to concentrate. However, it does not faster the metabolizing of alcohol content in the body. Caffeine loaded drinks like coffee and tea help to overcome the effects of alcohol akin to a hangover, blur vision, tongue twist, and headaches.
It is noteworthy to mention that drunk and drive is still illegal if you have consumed caffeine after alcohol consumption. Alcohol stills remain detectable in the system.
- Hydration through water: Alcohol lowers the hydration level of the body. Due to the presence of alcohol content in the bloodstreams, the good fluids in the body absorbs quickly. Drinking water prevents the effects of a hangover. Although the consumption of water after alcohol may make you feel like vomiting, it surely protects from a hangover. Hydration does not have any impact on BAC.
- Medication for Metabolism: Drugs are rich with medications for everything. From greyscale to constipation, a medical store can give it all. But of course, one must not fall for the metabolism medication when it comes to blood alcohol concentration. It does not make any impact. In actual fact, these medications can improve the effects of a hangover.
No medications can faster the metabolizing of alcohol content than standard drinking habits.
- Consumption of Multivitamins: Among the alcoholics, the consumption of vital vitamins is universal. Vitamins like thiamine (B-1), folic acid and niacin are mainly consumed. However, these vitamins do not put any impact on the blood alcohol concentration level. It is noteworthy to mention that the consumption of multivitamins after alcohol can improve the risk of cardiovascular diseases. This is because many hormonal changes take place in the body. It is not important that all human body can interact with a combination of multivitamins and alcohol entirely the same.
- Workout: Many people may tell you that exercising can help the body to control blood alcohol concentration after heavy drinking. However, it is not true. BAC remains ineffective. Sweating may help the alcoholic to gain control of the body and voluntary muscles.
What’s the solution to high blood alcohol concentration?
Moderate drinking is the only solution to control blood alcohol concentration up to the limits set by law and order. One glass (12 ounces) per hour is a standard and healthy drink.
Undoubtedly, the BAC and its alcohol content complete metabolizing depend upon how much alcohol is consumed. Let’s take a look at for how long blood alcohol concentration remains high in the human body—
- 02% of BAC takes up to 1 and half hours for metabolizing
- 05% of BAC takes up to 3 and half hours for metabolizing
- 08% of BAC takes up to 5 and a half hours for metabolizing
- 10% of BAC takes more than 6 hours for metabolizing
The above calculations have been observed by using adv BAC calculator.
Can Blood alcohol concentration cause death?
Blood alcohol content as low as 0.02%, does not cause much health impact on the human body. But, BAC as high as 0.30% to 0.40% and over causes death.
Does BAC reduce if I sober up fast?
No, upon sobering up, blood alcohol concentration does not reduce. According to studies, blood concentration level reduces by time. It reduces by 0.15 ounces per hour. The time required to reduce a specific percent of BAC has not been impacted by factors such as gender, health condition, body weight, and height.
How to calculate metabolize time for blood alcohol concentration (BAC)?
Metabolize time = rate of BAC reduction/BAC level
For example, if the BAC level is 0.015%.
Time = .15/0.015 = 10 HOURS.
“Adapt moderate drinking today for harmless blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and long lifetime.”
