Alcohol Consumption Calculator
Calculate your estimated Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) based on your drinks consumed, weight, gender, and time. BAC is a measure of the amount of alcohol in your bloodstream and can help you understand your level of impairment.
Your BAC: 0.000%
Status: -
Estimated sober time: -
<0.03%
0.03-0.06%
0.06-0.10%
0.10-0.20%
0.20%+
BAC Effects Chart
| BAC Level | Effects |
|---|---|
| 0.00 - 0.03% | No loss of coordination, slight euphoria |
| 0.03 - 0.06% | Mild euphoria, relaxation, lowered inhibitions |
| 0.06 - 0.10% | Buzzed, impaired judgment, lowered alertness |
| 0.10 - 0.20% | Drunk, slurred speech, poor coordination |
| 0.20 - 0.30% | Severe motor impairment, blackouts, memory loss |
| 0.30% and Above | Potentially life-threatening, risk of coma or death |
About Alcohol Consumption Calculator
Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) is a measure of the amount of alcohol in your bloodstream. It is expressed as a percentage that represents the weight of alcohol per unit volume of blood. BAC is used to determine legal intoxication and can help you understand your level of impairment.
How BAC is Calculated
BAC is calculated using the Widmark formula, which takes into account the amount of alcohol consumed, your weight, gender, and the time over which alcohol was consumed. The basic formula is:
BAC = (Alcohol consumed in grams / (Body weight in grams × r)) × 100 - (Metabolism rate × hours)
Where:
- r is the distribution ratio (0.68 for men, 0.55 for women)
- Metabolism rate is typically 0.015 per hour
Standard Drink Sizes
One standard drink contains about 14 grams of pure alcohol, which is found in:
- 12 ounces of regular beer (5% ABV)
- 5 ounces of wine (12% ABV)
- 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits (40% ABV)
Factors Affecting BAC
Several factors can affect your BAC and how alcohol affects you:
- Body weight: People with more body weight typically have more blood and water to dilute alcohol
- Gender: Women often have higher BAC than men after drinking the same amount due to differences in body composition
- Food intake: Eating before or while drinking slows alcohol absorption
- Metabolism: The liver metabolizes alcohol at a fairly constant rate of about one standard drink per hour
- Medications: Some medications can interact with alcohol and increase impairment
Legal Limits
In most countries, the legal limit for driving is 0.08% BAC. However, impairment begins at much lower levels:
- 0.02%: Some loss of judgment, relaxation
- 0.05%: Exaggerated behavior, impaired judgment
- 0.08%: Poor muscle coordination, driving skills affected
- 0.10%: Clear deterioration of reaction time and control
- 0.15%: Far less muscle control, vomiting may occur
Limitations of BAC Calculators
While BAC calculators provide useful estimates, they cannot account for all individual factors that affect alcohol absorption and metabolism. Actual BAC can vary based on:
- Individual metabolism rates
- Recent food consumption
- Hydration levels
- Medications or health conditions
- Tolerance to alcohol
This calculator should not be used to determine if you're safe to drive or perform other tasks requiring full mental capacity. When in doubt, don't drive.