Understanding BAC Do you drink alcohol? If so, you may have experienced the effects of an elevated blood alcohol content or concentration (BAC). This is the measure for how much alcohol is in your bloodstream. BAC increases when you drink alcohol faster than your body can process it. Drinking alcohol can have negative effects on mental and physical health. Understanding your BAC can help you monitor your drinking habits and make responsible decisions. How BAC Affects Your Body When the amount of alcohol in your blood rises faster than your body can remove it, you may start to feel intoxicated. As your BAC rises, so do the bodily effects. What You May Experience PREV % BAC NEXT 0.00 Press the NEXT button on the breathalyzer to get a reading. Altered mood Feeling relaxed and warm Slightly impaired judgement Lowered inhibition and alertness Impaired judgment Exaggerated behavior (e.g., speaking louder, bigger gestures) Loss of coordination and balance Impaired speech and vision Slower reaction time Slurred speech Slower thinking and reasoning Poor motor coordination Difficulty walking and talking Nausea and vomiting Upset mood (e.g., anxious, restless) Feeling confused and disoriented Decreased pain sensation Drowsiness and memory loss (e.g., ‘blacking out’) Unconsciousness Alcohol poisoning Increased heart rate and irregular breathing Respiratory failure Coma or death Factors that Impact Your BAC In general, your liver can break down about one standard drink per hour. However, several factors influence the way your body metabolizes alcohol. Amount of alcohol consumed Pace of drinking Food consumption Medications and certain health conditions Age and sex Body weight and hydration status Mental health and mood Fatigue Drinking Responsibly Overall, drinking less is better for your health. If you choose to drink alcohol, it is best to do so in moderation. Moderate drinking is considered one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men. Drinking more than these amounts can have negative health effects, especially if you drink excessively. If you want to check your drinking habits, try this tool from the CDC. When you drink alcohol, your BAC rises and may cause changes in how you feel and act. The more you drink, the stronger the effects become. Always drink responsibly and limit your alcohol intake if you start feeling intoxicated. Talk to your healthcare provider, command leadership and/or a substance use professional if you are concerned about your drinking habits. Additional ResourcesNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration - “The ABCs of BAC: A Guide to Understanding Blood Alcohol Concentration and Alcohol Impairment.”National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism - “Rethinking Drinking Tools”Own Your Limits - “Check Your Drinking Habits”Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration - “Behavioral Health Treatment Locator”ReferencesAmerican Addiction Centers - “Blood Alcohol Concentration Levels and How They Affect the Bod”Cleveland Clinic - “Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)”Osborne AK et al - “Military service and alcohol use: a systematic narrative review”Own Your Limits - “How Alcohol Impacts People Differently”Stanford University - “What Is Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)?”
