Blood alcohol concentration BAC measures the amount of alcohol in your bloodstream. Blood alcohol content BAC is typically expressed as a percentage and can be done with either a breathalyzer or a blood alcohol test. For example, someone with a blood alcohol content BAC of 0.08% is considered legally intoxicated in most states.
The higher your blood alcohol content, the more impaired you will be. You may experience problems with coordination, judgment, and vision. You may also feel drunker than you are.
If you exceed the legal limit, and it was determined by either a breathalyzer or blood alcohol test, you may be arrested for drunk driving. You may also face fines, jail time, and loss of your driver’s license.
There is no such thing as a “normal” blood alcohol level, as the blood alcohol content can vary from person to person. However, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines blood alcohol content as follows:
– 0.02% or below is considered legally impaired
– 0.05% is considered moderately impaired
– 0.08% is considered severely impaired
– 0.10% or above is considered life-threatening