How Many Drinks Is .08

It is illegal to operate a motor vehicle when your blood alcohol concentration is over .08% in Canada. Under the Criminal Code, these are commonly known as “Over 80” or ”impaired driving” offences, and can result in significant consequences to anyone convicted of them, even first time offenders.

When you choose to get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol on a night out, it is sometimes difficult to determine whether you are over .08%. Due to the potential consequences, it is important to understand blood alcohol concentration, and what you can do to prevent driving over the legal limit.

Understanding the .08% BAC Limit

BAC, or “Blood Alcohol Concentration”, refers to the percent of alcohol that is present in your bloodstream. For example, if your Blood Alcohol Concentration is 0.10%, your blood is one part alcohol for every 1000 parts blood. In Canada, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle while your Blood Alcohol Concentration is over .08%, which translates to 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood.

Driving while you are under the influence of alcohol can result in fines, licence suspensions, and even potential criminal charges. Even if it is your first-time driving under the influence of alcohol, you may receive jail time depending on the circumstances of your offence.

How Many Drinks Does It Take to Reach .08?

Due to the various factors that affect concentration of alcohol in your blood, there is no specific answer to how many drinks it takes to reach .08% BAC. The concentration of alcohol in your blood can be affected by any of the following:

• Weight: People with lower weight often have higher BAC levels than people with higher weight; this is due to the way the body breaks down the alcohol. Alternatively, a person with a lower body fat percentage will have a lower BAC level than those with a higher percentage.
• Gender: Women often have a higher BAC compared to men while consuming the same amount or type of alcohol. This can be due to different metabolisms as well as different biological functions.
• Food intake: Consuming food before or while drinking alcohol can slow down the process of how the body absorbs alcohol. Drinking on an empty stomach may result in a higher BAC level.
• Type of Alcohol: Different types of alcohol can have an impact on BAC levels; drinking hard liquor with a higher alcohol percentage will result in a higher BAC.
• Rate of Consumption: Consuming many drinks quickly will result in a higher BAC level. Remember, it generally takes your body one hour to break down one drink. Your BAC could be rising by the hour, depending on how many drinks you have had.

If you have developed a functional tolerance to consuming large amounts of alcohol, this will not have any effect on your BAC levels. So even if you are not exhibiting any signs of intoxication, your Blood Alcohol Concentration may still be above the legal limit.

Estimating BAC: General Guidelines

In Canada, a standard drink is equivalent to a bottle of beer (5% alcohol content), a 5 oz glass of wine (12%), or a 1.5 oz shot of a spirit (40%).

For an average male, it takes 4 standard drinks within 2 hours to reach a BAC of .08%. For the average female, it takes 3 standard drinks within 2 hours to reach a BAC over the legal limit. However, the blood alcohol concentration in an individual is dependent on several different factors and cannot be easily estimated.

Additionally, a standard drink is roughly processed within an hour. For example, if a male or female has one drink, the body should process that drink one hour later, and BAC levels should return to normal. It is important to remember that everybody has different metabolism rates, and due to various bodily components, a person’s body can absorb alcohol at different rates.

Limitations of Estimating BAC by Drink Count

While there is a general understanding that 3-4 drinks consumed within 2 hours will cause you to exceed the legal limit to drive, drink count is not a reliable method for calculating your blood alcohol concentration. Due to the differences in food consumption, individual metabolism, and individual characteristics, your BAC can vary significantly.

A wrong estimation can be the difference between being charged with a criminal offence or not, so it is crucial that you are certain that you are not driving when your BAC is over .08%. To protect yourself from potential criminal liability, it is highly recommended that you carry a breathalyzer test with you and test yourself before getting behind the wheel. There are also several BAC calculators available online, which can provide a slightly more accurate estimate of your blood alcohol concentration.

Real-World Examples

If you are planning on operating a motor vehicle after drinking alcohol, it is crucial that you are aware of what you have consumed.

For example, if you are drinking at a party, your blood alcohol concentration can rise very quickly if you are not careful. When you are concentrating on interacting with other people, you may lose track of the number of drinks that you have consumed. You may think you have only had three drinks in a few hours, but forget to include the two shots that you shared with friends in your calculation. This miscalculation could cause you to drive with a blood alcohol concentration over the legal limit, and can result in criminal charges being placed against you.

Casually drinking, such as having drinks with dinner, can also lead to potential DUI charges. You may underestimate the amount of alcohol that is in your blood, as consuming it with food can cause you to feel less intoxicated. So, when you choose to have that extra glass of wine, you may be pushing yourself over the legal limit to drive.

No matter the situation you are in, it is important to keep track of what you have had to drink before driving. A failure to do so could lead to serious consequences, including fines, licence suspensions, and even criminal charges.

Conclusion

Due to the potential consequences of driving while over the legal limit of .08% blood alcohol concentration, it is crucial that you are aware of the amount of alcohol you consume before operating a motor vehicle.

While it is generally understood that 3-4 standard drinks consumed within 2 hours can cause you to exceed the legal limit to drive, drink count is not a reliable method for calculating your blood alcohol concentration. The concentration of alcohol in a person’s blood is based on a number of factors, including; gender, weight, food intake, type of drink, and how fast the drinks were consumed.