Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is a measure of how much alcohol is in a person’s bloodstream. It is generally expressed as a percentage of the amount of ethanol in the blood when compared to the amount of blood in the sample. To put it simply, if a person’s BAC is .08%, it means that 8/100ths of 1% of the sample is ethanol.
For business professionals, understanding BAC is important for many different reasons. For one, it affects the way that alcohol laws are enforced. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, .08% BAC is the legal driving limit in all 50 states. Over this limit, a person can be arrested and charged with a DUI. Therefore, individuals must recognize how their own BAC fluctuates depending on factors such as how much and how quickly alcohol has been consumed.
Business professionals should also be aware of how BAC affects social settings. Many bars and restaurants boast about responsible drinking policies and, in some cases, may reserve the right to refuse service to people who appear to have had too much to drink. It’s important to emphasize that these policies are usually based on visual observation and professional judgment rather than a person’s actual BAC–in other words, even if you think you’re perfectly safe beneath the legal limit, it’s probably best not to push your luck beyond what’s socially acceptable.
Measuring BAC: How to Calculate Your Own Blood Alcohol Concentration
Calculating your own BAC is a relatively simple process. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provides a basic calculator to determine what the effects of a particular amount of alcohol will be on your body. Here are the calculations to use:
- 1 Drink = 1.2 ounces of hard liquor, 12 ounces of beer, or 5 ounces of wine.
- Multiply the number of drinks consumed by the alcohol content of the beverage in question. For example, an 80 proof liquor such as vodka is 40% alcohol, so one drink would be equivalent to 0.48 ounces of alcohol.
- Divide the amount of alcohol consumed by the weight of the individual. The calculation for males is as follows: grams of alcohol / (body weight in pounds x 0.45) x 100 = BAC.
- For female bodies, use this equation: grams of alcohol (as listed above) / (body weight in pounds x 0.6) x 100 = BAC.
It’s important to understand that BAC is only an estimate. Things like age, weight, and even recent meals can have a major impact, so use these figures as a guideline rather than gospel.
Maintaining Safe BAC Levels: When Is It Too Much?
Ultimately, business professionals should keep their BAC well below the legal limit for driving. If you ever find your BAC rising too high, it’s a good sign you should switch to non-alcoholic beverages or, if you’re already at a bar or club, it may be time to call it a night.
The most important thing to remember is that your personal safety should always come first. Understanding BAC can help you make sure you stay safe while enjoying your night out or attending your favorite business event.