The Effects of Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)

BAC is measured by a breathalyzer or blood test. Alcohol is absorbed directly through the walls of the stomach and small intestine. It then passes into the bloodstream where it accumulates until it is metabolized by the liver. A person's alcohol level is measured by the weight of the alcohol in a certain volume of blood. This is called Blood Alcohol Concentration, or BAC. At a BAC of .08 grams of alcohol per deciliter (g/dL) of blood, crash risk increases exponentially. Because of this risk, it’s illegal in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to drive with a BAC of .08 or higher, except in Utah where the BAC limit is .05.

About 30% of all traffic crash fatalities in the United States involve drunk drivers (with BACs of .08 g/dL or higher). In 2023, 2,117 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes involving a driver with a BAC of .01 to 0.7 g/dL
Chart: Bader Law Source: NHTSA Download imageCreated with Datawrapper