Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) refers to the level of alcohol in a person's bloodstream. BAC is calculated as weight per unit of volume. This measurement is usually converted to what percentage of a person's blood contains alcohol. Since alcohol in the blood travels straight to the brain, it affects cognitive functioning and can increase the risk of a motor vehicle accident when the concentration of alcohol in the blood becomes too great. The legal BAC limit across the U.S. is now 0.08 percent. There are several factors that influence a person's BAC.
Gender
According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, a man and a woman who consume the same number of alcoholic beverages will normally have different BAC levels. A woman's will be higher because a female body contains less water and more fat tissue, which is not as readily penetrated by alcohol, and women are generally smaller than men. It might take only one drink for a woman who weighs less than 120 pounds to fail a BAC test. A man who weighs many pounds more could consume slightly more alcohol because of his larger blood volume.
Drinks per Hour
When it comes to alcohol consumption and blood alcohol concentration, every person is different. The speed at which your body processes alcohol differs from one person to the next. In general, any more than one alcoholic drink per hour is too much for a liver to metabolize (process). One drink is considered to be 12 ounces of beer, 4 to 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of hard liquor.
Types of Drinks
Carbonated beverages may accelerate the alcohol absorption process, while water and fruit juices that are mixed with alcohol may slow it down. Mixed drinks often contain more than one shot of alcohol, so they will take longer to metabolize.
Food
According to the Mayo Clinic, if your stomach is empty while you're drinking, approximately 20 percent of the alcohol you consume can rush to your brain in less than 60 seconds. When there is food in your stomach, alcohol absorbs more gradually into the blood stream.
Coffee Myth
The Mayo Clinic says drinking coffee will in no way help sober you up faster. Time is the only thing that will lower blood alcohol level. There is nothing to do but wait for your body to metabolize the alcohol.
