---------------THIS MONTH'S TOPIC--------------- Drinking by the Numbers: How Alcohol Builds Up in the Blood

As the holiday season approaches, alcohol-related arrests tend to increase. We thought it may be helpful for readers to see the effect of alcohol consumption on blood alcohol level. As of July of 2003, it is a crime to drive with a BAC of .08% or higher. Men Approximate blood alcohol percentage Drinks Body Weight in Pounds   100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240 1 .04 .03 .03 .02 .02 .02 .02 .02 2 .08 .06 .05 .05 .04 .04 .03 .03 3 .11 .09 .08 .07 .06 .06 .05 .05 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 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 Women Approximate blood alcohol percentage Drinks Body Weight in Pounds   90 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240 1 .05 .05 .04 .03 .03 .03 .02 .02 .02 21 .10 .09 .08 .07 .06 .05 .05 .04 .04 3 .15 .14 .11 .10 .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 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 percent for each 40 minutes
One drink is 1.25 ounces of 80-proof liquor, 12 ounces of beer or 5 ounces of table wine
SOURCE : National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information