The effects of alcohol intoxication are greatly influenced by individual variations among users. Some users may become intoxicated at a much lower Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) level than is shown.
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, .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.
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.
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 (anxiety, restlessness) is beginning to appear. Judgment and perception are severely impaired.
0.16-0.19 BAC: Dysphoria predominates, nausea may appear. The drinker has the appearance of a "sloppy drunk."
0.20 BAC: Felling dazed, confused or otherwise disoriented. May need help to stand or walk. If you injure yourself you may not feel the pain. Some people experience 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.
What is a "Drink"?
It's not how many "drinks" that you have, but how much alcohol that you consume. In charts and statistics a "drink" is normally defined as:
BEER - An "average" beer has about 5% alcohol content, but beers can vary in alcohol content too. An "ice" beer has a higher content, some as high as 7% by volume and some of the light beers are much lower alcohol content. Malt liquor is higher in alcohol content than the average beer Some draft beers are more than 12-oz. They can be 16, 18 or 22 oz - almost the equivalent of two "drinks" in one beer.
MIXED DRINKS - "averages" are based on typical drink recipes using 80 proof liquors. The amount of alcohol in actual mixed drinks may vary. For example a rum drink may have a range of proof in rums from 80 proof to "151" rum (named for it's proof). And that assumes that is it measured accurately when the drink is prepared.
A shot of apple Schnapps has less alcohol content than the same size shot of the average tequila.
WINES & WINE COOLER - vary in alcohol content also, but are normally a closer range so that one wine cooler or one 4-5 oz glass of wine will be the equivalent of one "drink."
BOTTOM LINE: Not all "drinks" are alike.
Be sure you know the alcohol content of the "drink" that you are having.
