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Disclaimer: This is in
no way purported to be a guideline for how much you can drink and still
drive or avoid being arrested! The best policy is don't drink and
drive. Period.
The following information and graphics was shamlessly
stolen from the website of the University of Oklahoma Police Department.
It is placed here as it is amusing as well as informative.
"If
I have too much to drink, I can drink a lot of coffee to sober up quickly.
Right?"
Ha. Tell us another one! Drinking a
lot of coffee after drinking too much alcohol may, however, increase
your discomfort through the need to use the bathroom while being transported
to the jail on DUI charges. Only time reverses impairment.
"Will eating breath mints after drinking
fool a police 'breath test'?"
Eating mints will not affect your BAC level
since it isn't the smell of your breath, but the alcohol content, that's
measured. Using breath mints, however, may earn you points with the
arresting officer if you normally have bad breath.
"Well, at least eating breath mints
might fool the officer, right?"
Ha. Sure, police are really fooled when
they see a combination of erratic driving behavior and powerfully minty
breath. Yep, that one fools us every time. Get real.
"I've heard preparing yourself by eating
certain foods before an evening of heavy drinking will help keep your
sober. Is that true?"
That story has been around since before
your grandparents were born. The only relation we've seen between what
you eat before drinking and your drunkenness is that the more you drink,
the more likely we are to find what you ate on your shirt, or on the
floorboard of the patrol car.
"Ok, but if I eat a BIG meal before drinking,
won't that help keep me from getting drunk?"
How much you have eaten, and how recently,
may have a small effect on how quickly or slowly the alcohol you consume
will enter your bloodstream � but it won't stop the alcohol from entering.
If you drink too much, you will become intoxicated. There may be, however,
a direct correlation between the size of your meal and how much of your
meal may be found later in patrol cars and jail cells.
"Will splashing cold water on my face or taking
a cold shower help sober me up?"
Splash away! And by all means, take a cold
shower. It may make you cleaner, but it won't sober you up or make you
a safe driver. The deputies at the jail, however, prefer clean drunks
and recommend showering prior to doing anything that will lead to your
arrest, such as driving after you've been drinking.
"Will running around the block a few
times sober me up enough to drive home?"
Exercise won't sober you up any faster,
but feel free to run around the block as many times as you like. The
deputies at the jail ask us to remind you to shower after your long
run and before you drive a car.
"They were serving a spiked punch, but
I couldn't even taste the alcohol in it. I can't be drunk!"
Party-goer, beware. Fruit juices have the
ability to mask the taste of alcohol. A fruit "punch" can contain a
substantial amount of alcohol without the taste of the alcohol being
noticed � but it will make you just as drunk as alcohol which you can
taste in another kind of drink. A mild-tasting cup of punch at a party
may contain more alcohol than any normal drink you would buy at a bar.
Nothing sobers up a drinker except
time.
Here are two sex-weighted charts for an alternate method of calculating
an approximate BAC level...
ALCOHOL
IMPAIRMENT CHART
MALES
|
APPROXIMATE
BLOOD ALCOHOL PERCENTAGE
|
|
DRINKS* |
BODY WEIGHT IN
POUNDS
|
EFFECT ON PERSON
|
| |
100 |
120 |
140 |
160 |
180 |
200 |
220 |
240 |
|
|
0
|
.00 |
.00 |
.00 |
.00 |
.00 |
.00 |
.00 |
.00 |
ONLY SAFE DRIVING LIMIT
|
|
1
|
.04 |
.03 |
.03 |
.02 |
.02 |
.02 |
.02 |
.02 |
IMPAIRMENT
BEGINS.
|
|
2
|
.08 |
.06 |
.05 |
.05 |
.04 |
.04 |
.03 |
.03 |
|
3
|
.11 |
.09 |
.08 |
.07 |
.06 |
.06 |
.05 |
.05 |
DRIVING
SKILLS SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTED.
** CRIMINAL PENALTIES IN MOST
STATES
|
|
4
|
.15 |
.12 |
.11 |
.09 |
.08 |
.08 |
.07 |
.06 |
|
5
|
.19 |
.16 |
.13 |
.12 |
.11 |
.09 |
.09 |
.08 |
|
6
|
.23 |
.19 |
.16 |
.14 |
.13 |
.11 |
.10 |
.09 |
|
7
|
.26 |
.22 |
.19 |
.16 |
.15 |
.13 |
.12 |
.11 |
LEGALLY
INTOXICATED.
CRIMINAL
PENALTIES IN ALL STATES
|
|
8
|
.30 |
.25 |
.21 |
.19 |
.17 |
.15 |
.14 |
.13 |
|
9
|
.34 |
.28 |
.24 |
.21 |
.19 |
.17 |
.15 |
.14 |
|
10
|
.38 |
.31 |
.27 |
.23 |
.21 |
.19 |
.17 |
.16 |
Subtract .01%
for each 40 minutes of drinking.
* One drink is equal to 1� oz. of 80-proof liquor, 12 oz. of beer, or
4 oz. of table wine.
**45 states have
a
.08 BAC per se law
�AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CT, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA,
MD, ME, MI, MO, MS, MT, ND, NE, NH, NM, NC, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, RI,
SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WI and WY [and D.C.] (Updated: 11/20/03)
DON'T
DRINK AND DRIVE!!
ALCOHOL
IMPAIRMENT CHART
FEMALES
|
APPROXIMATE BLOOD ALCOHOL PERCENTAGE
|
|
DRINKS* |
BODY WEIGHT IN
POUNDS
|
EFFECT ON PERSON
|
| |
90 |
100 |
120 |
140 |
160 |
180 |
200 |
220 |
240 |
|
|
0
|
.00 |
.00 |
.00 |
.00 |
.00 |
.00 |
.00 |
.00 |
.00 |
ONLY SAFE
DRIVING LIMIT
|
|
1
|
.05 |
.05 |
.04 |
.03 |
.03 |
.03 |
.02 |
.02 |
.02 |
IMPAIRMENT
BEGINS.
|
|
2
|
.10 |
.09 |
.08 |
.07 |
.06 |
.05 |
.05 |
.04 |
.04 |
DRIVING
SKILLS SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTED.
** CRIMINAL PENALTIES IN MOST
STATES
|
|
3
|
.15 |
.14 |
.11 |
.11 |
.09 |
.08 |
.07 |
.06 |
.06 |
|
4
|
.20 |
.18 |
.15 |
.13 |
.11 |
.10 |
.09 |
.08 |
.08 |
|
5
|
.25 |
.23 |
.19 |
.16 |
.14 |
.13 |
.11 |
.10 |
.09 |
|
6
|
.30 |
.27 |
.23 |
.19 |
.17 |
.15 |
.14 |
.12 |
.11 |
LEGALLY INTOXICATED.
CRIMINAL PENALTIES IN ALL STATES
|
|
7
|
.35 |
.32 |
.27 |
.23 |
.20 |
.18 |
.16 |
.14 |
.13 |
|
8
|
.40 |
.36 |
.30 |
.26 |
.23 |
.20 |
.18 |
.17 |
.15 |
|
9
|
.45 |
.41 |
.34 |
.29 |
.26 |
.23 |
.20 |
.19 |
.17 |
|
10
|
.51 |
.45 |
.38 |
.32 |
.28 |
.25 |
.23 |
.21 |
.19 |
Subtract .01% for each 40 minutes of drinking.
* One drink is equal to 1� oz. of 80-proof liquor, 12 oz. of beer, or
4 oz. of table wine.
**45 states have
a
.08 BAC per se law
�AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CT, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA,
MD, ME, MI, MO, MS, MT, ND, NE, NH, NM, NC, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, RI,
SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WI and WY [and D.C.] (Updated: 11/20/03)
DON'T
DRINK AND DRIVE!!
 Click
HERE for a
printable copy of the two
Alcohol Impairment Charts (above) in Adobe .PDF format.
(Click
here to download free Acrobat Reader software direct from Adobe.
The same disclaimers
apply to these charts (and the printable .PDF chart versions)
as to the "BAC Calculator"
at the top of this page. Click
HERE to jump back
up and read the disclaimers.
EFFECTS
OF ALCOHOL AT SPECIFIC BAC LEVELS
The effects of alcohol intoxication are greatly
influenced by individual variations; some users may become intoxicated
at a much lower BAC level than is indicated (below)...
0.02
� 0.03 BAC: No loss of coordination, slight euphoria and
loss of shyness. Depressant effects are not apparent. Mildly relaxed
and maybe a little lightheaded.
0.04
� 0.06 BAC: Feeling of well-being, relaxation, lower inhibitions,
sensation of warmth. Euphoria. Some minor impairment of reasoning and
memory, lowering of caution. Your behavior may become exaggerated and
emotions intensified (Good emotions are better, bad emotions are
worse)
0.07
� 0.09 BAC: Slight impairment of balance, speech, vision,
reaction time, and hearing. Euphoria. Judgment and self-control are
reduced, and caution, reason and memory are impaired (in some*
states .08 is legally impaired and it is illegal to drive at this level).
You will probably believe that you are functioning better than you really
are. ( * �As of 11/20/2003, 45 states had passed
.08 BAC Per Se Laws.)
0.10
� 0.125 BAC: Significant impairment of motor coordination
and loss of good judgment. Speech may be slurred; balance, vision, reaction
time and hearing will be impaired. Euphoria. It is illegal to operate
a motor vehicle at this level of intoxication in all states.
0.13
� 0.15 BAC: Gross motor impairment and lack of physical control.
Blurred vision and major loss of balance. Euphoria is reduced and dysphoria*
is beginning to appear. Judgment and perception are severely impaired.
( * �Dysphoria: An emotional state
of anxiety, depression, or unease.)
0.16
� 0.19 BAC: Dysphoria predominates, nausea may appear. The
drinker has the appearance of a "sloppy drunk."
0.20
BAC: Feeling dazed/confused or otherwise disoriented. May
need help to stand/walk. If you injure yourself you may not feel the
pain. Some people have nausea and vomiting at this level. The gag reflex
is impaired and you can choke if you do vomit. Blackouts are likely
at this level so you may not remember what has happened.
0.25
BAC: All mental, physical and sensory functions are severely
impaired. Increased risk of asphyxiation from choking on vomit and of
seriously injuring yourself by falls or other accidents.
0.30
BAC: STUPOR. You have little comprehension of where you are.
You may pass out suddenly and be difficult to awaken.
0.35
BAC: Coma is possible. This is the level of surgical anesthesia.
0.40
BAC and up: Onset of coma, and possible death due to respiratory
arrest.
FACTOID: Unbelted
occupants account for 84% of impaired driving fatalities in Oklahoma
(and 84% of impaired driving fatalities, nationwide). Fasten
those seat belts! (NHTSA
statistics)
Click
HERE for a printable (.PDF) version of this poster from the
NHTSA.
Get The Keys:
How You Can Intervene
The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) and The Advertising Council's
Innocent Victims public service campaign emphasizes the need
to intervene and get the keys away from someone about to drive
drunk.
Here are some helpful tips and advice from focus group research
on how people can get the keys away from a drunk driver:
|
1. |
If it is a close friend, try and use a soft, calm approach
at first. Suggest to them that they�ve had too much
to drink and it would be better if someone else drove
or if they took a cab.
|
|
2. |
Be calm. Joke about it. Make light of it.
|
|
3. |
Try to make it sound like you are doing them a favor.
|
|
|
4. |
If it is somebody you don�t know well, speak to their
friends and have them make an attempt to persuade them
to hand over the keys. Usually they will listen.
|
|
5. |
If it�s a good friend, spouse, or significant other,
tell them that if they insist on driving, you are not
going with them. Suggest that you will call someone
else for a ride, take a cab, or walk.
|
|
6. |
Locate their keys while they are preoccupied and take
them away. Most likely, they will think they�ve lost
them and will be forced to find another mode of transportation.
|
|
7. |
If possible, avoid embarrassing the person or being
confrontational, particularly when dealing with men.
This makes them appear vulnerable to alcohol and its
effects.
|
Friends Don't Let Friends Drive Drunk.
Pass It On.
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