Knowing your Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)

BAC, or Blood Alcohol Content, is a measure of the amount of alcohol in the blood. For example, a
BAC of .10 means there is one part alcohol per every 1,000 parts blood, or 0.10% (one tenth of
one percent).

To calculate your BAC, use the chart below, selecting based on your biological sex. Begin by
finding your current weight (measured in pounds) on the vertical line. Once you have found your
weight, you can use the drinks amounts on the horizontal line to estimate your BAC.

For Males

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Body
drink drinks drinks drinks drinks drinks drinks drinks drinks drinks
weight
100 .043 .087 .130 .174 .217 .261 .304 .348 .391 .435
125 .034 .069 .103 .139 .173 .209 .242 .278 .312 .346
150 .029 .058 .087 .116 .145 .174 .203 .232 .261 .290
175 .025 .050 .075 .100 .125 .150 .175 .200 .225 .250
200 .022 .043 .065 .087 .108 .130 .152 .174 .195 .217
225 .019 .039 .058 .078 .097 .117 .136 .156 .175 .198
250 .017 .035 .052 .070 .087 .105 .122 .139 .156 .173

For Females

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Body
drink drinks drinks drinks drinks drinks drinks drinks drinks drinks
weight
100 .050 .101 .152 .203 .253 .304 .355 .406 .456 .507
125 .040 .080 .120 .162 .202 .244 .282 .324 .364 .404
150 .034 .068 .101 .135 .169 .203 .237 .271 .304 .338
175 0.29 .058 .087 .117 .146 .175 .204 .233 .262 .292
200 .026 .050 .076 .101 .126 .152 .177 .203 .227 .253
225 .022 .045 .068 .091 .113 .136 .159 .182 .204 .227
250 .020 .041 .061 .082 .101 .122 .142 .162 .182 .202

These charts are intended to provide a general guideline and are for educational purposes. Every person reacts
differently to alcohol, depending on personal qualities such as body composition, use of medication or other drugs,
mood changes, and metabolism.
 Standard Drink Sizes

Count as a Drink . . .

 12 ounces (fl oz. or oz.) of regular beer

 5 ounces of wine
 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits

Standard drink equivalents:

Beer:
 12 oz. = 1 standard drink
 16 oz. = 1.3 standard drinks
 22 oz. = 2 standard drinks
 40 oz. = 3.3 standard drinks

Malt Liquor (like Colt 45, St. Ides, Olde English 800, Mickey’s):
 12 oz. = 1.5 standard drinks
 16 oz. = 2.0 standard drinks
 22 oz. = 2.5 standard drinks
 40 oz. = 4.5 standard drinks
Wine:
 a 4 oz. glass = 1 standard drink
 a 750 mL (25 oz.) bottle = 5 standard drinks

80-proof Spirits (Like Vodka, Gin, Whisky, Rum, Kahlua, etc.):

 a mixed drink = 1 or more* standard drinks
 a pint (16 oz.) = 11 standard drinks
 a fifth (25 oz.) = 17 standard drinks
 1.75 L (59 oz.) = 39 standard drinks

*Note: Depending on factors such as the type of spirits and the recipe, one mixed drink can
contain from one to three or more standard drinks.

How many milliliters in an ounce?

Fluid ounces to milliliters (fluid oz to ml) conversion factors for the United States (US) and the
United Kingdom (UK) are listed below. To find out how many milliliters in ounces, multiply by the
factors or simply use the converter below.

1 Fluid Ounce [US] = 29.5735296 Milliliters

1 Fluid Ounce [UK] = 28.4130625 Milliliters

 Conversion Table [US]

1 29.5735296 26 768.9117696 51 1508.25001 76 2247.58825

2 59.1470592 27 798.4852992 52 1537.823539 77 2277.161779

3 88.7205888 28 828.0588288 53 1567.397069 78 2306.735309

4 118.2941184 29 857.6323584 54 1596.970598 79 2336.308838

5 147.867648 30 887.205888 55 1626.544128 80 2365.882368

6 177.4411776 31 916.7794176 56 1656.117658 81 2395.455898

7 207.0147072 32 946.3529472 57 1685.691187 82 2425.029427

8 236.5882368 33 975.9264768 58 1715.264717 83 2454.602957

9 266.1617664 34 1005.500006 59 1744.838246 84 2484.176486

10 295.735296 35 1035.073536 60 1774.411776 85 2513.750016

11 325.3088256 36 1064.647066 61 1803.985306 86 2543.323546

12 354.8823552 37 1094.220595 62 1833.558835 87 2572.897075

13 384.4558848 38 1123.794125 63 1863.132365 88 2602.470605

14 414.0294144 39 1153.367654 64 1892.705894 89 2632.044134

15 443.602944 40 1182.941184 65 1922.279424 90 2661.617664

16 473.1764736 41 1212.514714 66 1951.852954 100 2957.35296

17 502.7500032 42 1242.088243 67 1981.426483 125 3696.6912

18 532.3235328 43 1271.661773 68 2011.000013 150 4436.02944

19 561.8970624 44 1301.235302 69 2040.573542 175 5175.36768

20 591.470592 45 1330.808832 70 2070.147072 200 5914.70592

 21 621.0441216 46 1360.382362 71 2099.720602 250 7393.3824

22 650.6176512 47 1389.955891 72 2129.294131 300 8872.05888

23 680.1911808 48 1419.529421 73 2158.867661 500 14786.7648

24 709.7647104 49 1449.10295 74 2188.44119 750 22180.1472

25 739.33824 50 1478.67648 75 2218.01472 1000 29573.5296

Now that you have learned to calculate your BAC level, it is also important to understand the
effects it can have on your body. Below are possible effects that are associated with ranges of BAC
levels.

0.01 - 0.03%

• 0.02 is the legal definition of intoxication for someone under the age of 21.
• May experience mild light headedness, relaxation and slight feelings of euphoria.
• Automobiles accidents are already twice as likely to occur at this BAC level. Consider
taking the Bus, using Safe Rider, or having a Designated Driver!

0.04 - 0.06%

• Inhibitions are lowered.

• Slight sedation may be experienced as well as sensation of warmth and relaxation.
• Exaggerated emotions or behavior may develop (good emotions will seem better,
negative emotions will seem worse.)
• Minor impairment of coordination, judgment, and reaction times.

0.07 - 0.90%

• 0.08 is the legal definition of intoxication for those who are 21 years of age or older.
• Motor impairment may be experienced including balance, reactions and vision;
Speech may also become slurred.
0.10 - 0.15%

• Significant motor and coordination impairment.

• Blurred vision, loss of balance and slurred speech more evident.
• Judgment and perceptions will become increasingly impaired.
• Dysphoric feelings become more evident.

0.16 - 0.19%

• Impairment of all mental and physical functions.

• Slurred speech, blurred vision and difficulty walking, talking or standing.
• Severe deficits in judgment and perception, often appears as “sloppy drunk”.
• Medical evaluation may be needed.

0.20 - 0.24%

• Severe impairment of mental, physical and sensory functions.

• Nausea and vomiting frequently occur; risk of asphyxiation from vomiting.
• Increased risk of injury from falls or accidents.
• May feel numb, dazed or confused.
• Memory may be impacted and blackouts are likely.
• At this BAC, medical assistance may be needed.

0.25 - 0.29%

• Increased risk of injury resulting from fall or accident.

• Vomiting and nausea with increased risk of asphyxiation from vomiting.
• Memory impairment and black outs.

0.30 - 0.39%

• Severe intoxication.
• Difficulty comprehending environment.
• Increased risk of loss of consciousness and may be difficult to awaken.
• Increased risk of coma.

0.40% Or above

• Coma is likely.
• Death is possible due to respiratory arrest.
Note: The legal definitions of intoxication mentioned above correspond to the State of Pennsylvania, but they may be
different in other states.

Text adapted from: http://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/shsbaceffects and http://www.niaaa.nih.gov (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and
Alcoholism and National Institutes of Health)