Impacts on the Body 3

Blood Alcohol Content

You have been introduced to the concept of blood alcohol content which is defined as the concentration of alcohol in the bloodstream, expressed as a percentage. For example, a BAC of 0.10% means there is 1 part alcohol per 1,000 parts of blood. Not only is BAC dependent upon how much alcohol is consumed, it also depends upon:

• How much blood is in a person’s body (which increases with muscle mass).
• How much water is in a person’s body (men typically have more water in their bodies than do women).
• How quickly the alcohol is consumed.  Remember, the body is capable of metabolizing about one drink per hour.  Amounts beyond this build up in the bloodstream.

The BAC level is also affected by weight, gender, food consumption, and other physical and emotional factors.

All of these factors should be considered when alcohol is consumed. The following charts give estimated BAC levels according to weight and drinks per hour for both males and females.