Alcohol Impairment Chart
This chart is intended as a guide, NOT a guarantee!
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 1.5 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 chart.
Some states have set .08% Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) as the legal limit for Driving Under the Influence. For commercial drivers, a BAC of .04% can result in a DUI conviction nationwide.
Impairment begins with your first drink! For safety's sake, never drive after drinking!
| 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 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 |
| 8 | .30 | .25 | .21 | .19 | .17 | .15 | .14 | .13 | |
| 9 | .34 | .28 | .24 | .21 | .19 | .17 | .15 | .14 | Criminal Penalties |
| 10 | .38 | .31 | .27 | .23 | .21 | .19 | .17 | .16 | |
| Your body can get rid of one drink per hour. One drink is 1.5 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 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 | |
| 7 | .35 | .32 | .27 | .23 | .20 | .18 | .16 | .14 | .13 | Legally Intoxicated |
| 8 | .40 | .36 | .30 | .26 | .23 | .20 | .18 | .17 | .15 | |
| 9 | .45 | .41 | .34 | .29 | .26 | .23 | .20 | .19 | .17 | Criminal Penalties |
| 10 | .51 | .45 | .38 | .32 | .28 | .25 | .23 | .21 | .19 | |
| Your body can get rid of one drink per hour. One drink is 1.5 oz. of 80 proof liquor, 12 oz. of beer, or 5 oz. of table wine. | ||||||||||
IMAGES PROVIDED BY:
- MedicineNet
REFERENCES:
Medically reviewed by Ashraf Al, MD; Board Certification in Psychiatry and Adolescent & Child Psychiatry July 13, 2017
Data supplied by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board
National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (http://ncadi.samhsa.gov/)