Alcohol affects individuals differently. Your blood alcohol level may be affected by your
age, gender, physical condition, amount of food consumed and any drugs or medication. In
addition, different drinks may contain different amounts of alcohol, so it's important to
know how much and the concentration of alcohol you consume.
For purposes of this guide, "one drink" is equal to 1.25 oz. of 80 proof liquor, 12 oz.
of regular beer, or 5 oz. of table wine.
A woman drinking an equal amount of alcohol in the same period of time as a man of an
equivalent weight may have a higher blood alcohol level than that man. Therefore,
women
should refer to the female "Know Your Limits" chart.
Some states have set .08% Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) as the legal limit for Driving Under the Influence while others are .10%. For commercial drivers, a BAC of .04% can result in a DUI conviction nationwide.
| Men |
| |
Approximate Blood Alcohol Percentage |
| Drinks |
Body Weight in Pounds |
|
| |
100 |
120 |
140 |
160 |
180 |
200 |
220 |
240 |
|
| 0 |
.00 |
.00 |
.00 |
.00 |
.00 |
.00 |
.00 |
.00 |
Only Safe
Driving Limit |
| 1 |
.04 |
.03 |
.03 |
.02 |
.02 |
.02 |
.02 |
.02 |
Impairment
Begins |
| 2 |
.08 |
.06 |
.05 |
.05 |
.04 |
.04 |
.03 |
.03 |
Driving
Skills
Significantly
Affected
Possible
Criminal
Penalties |
| 3 |
.11 |
.09 |
.08 |
.07 |
.06 |
.06 |
.05 |
.05 |
| 4 |
.15 |
.12 |
.11 |
.09 |
.08 |
.08 |
.07 |
.06 |
| 5 |
.19 |
.16 |
.13 |
.12 |
.11 |
.09 |
.09 |
.08 |
| 6 |
.23 |
.19 |
.16 |
.14 |
.13 |
.11 |
.10 |
.09 |
| 7 |
.26 |
.22 |
.19 |
.16 |
.15 |
.13 |
.12 |
.11 |
Legally
Intoxicated
Criminal
Penalties |
| 8 |
.30 |
.25 |
.21 |
.19 |
.17 |
.15 |
.14 |
.13 |
| 9 |
.34 |
.28 |
.24 |
.21 |
.19 |
.17 |
.15 |
.14 |
| 10 |
.38 |
.31 |
.27 |
.23 |
.21 |
.19 |
.17 |
.16 |
Subtract .01% for each 40 minutes of drinking.
One drink is 1.25 oz. of 80 proof liquor, 12 oz. of beer, or 5 oz. of table wine. |
|
| Women |
| |
Approximate Blood Alcohol Percentage |
| Drinks |
Body Weight in Pounds |
|
| |
90 |
100 |
120 |
140 |
160 |
180 |
200 |
220 |
240 |
|
| 0 |
.00 |
.00 |
.00 |
.00 |
.00 |
.00 |
.00 |
.00 |
.00 |
Only Safe
Driving Limit |
| 1 |
.05 |
.05 |
.04 |
.03 |
.03 |
.03 |
.02 |
.02 |
.02 |
Impairment
Begins |
| 2 |
.10 |
.09 |
.08 |
.07 |
.06 |
.05 |
.05 |
.04 |
.04 |
Driving Skills
Significantly
Affected
Possible
Criminal
Penalties |
| 3 |
.15 |
.14 |
.11 |
.10 |
.09 |
.08 |
.07 |
.06 |
.06 |
| 4 |
.20 |
.18 |
.15 |
.13 |
.11 |
.10 |
.09 |
.08 |
.08 |
| 5 |
.25 |
.23 |
.19 |
.16 |
.14 |
.13 |
.11 |
.10 |
.09 |
| 6 |
.30 |
.27 |
.23 |
.19 |
.17 |
.15 |
.14 |
.12 |
.11 |
Legally
Intoxicated
Criminal
Penalties |
| 7 |
.35 |
.32 |
.27 |
.23 |
.20 |
.18 |
.16 |
.14 |
.13 |
| 8 |
.40 |
.36 |
.30 |
.26 |
.23 |
.20 |
.18 |
.17 |
.15 |
| 9 |
.45 |
.41 |
.34 |
.29 |
.26 |
.23 |
.20 |
.19 |
.17 |
| 10 |
.51 |
.45 |
.38 |
.32 |
.28 |
.25 |
.23 |
.21 |
.19 |
Subtract .01% for each 40 minutes of drinking.
One drink is 1.25 oz. of 80 proof liquor, 12 oz. of beer, or 5 oz. of table wine. |
|
Data from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.
