lightbulb
Short answer
At the peak (no time elapsed), a 160 lb man reaches 0.08% BAC at about 2.8 standard drinks and a 160 lb woman at about 2.3. Lighter people reach it sooner, but impairment starts well before 0.08%.
1. Drinks to reach 0.08%
| Weight | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 120 lb | 2.1 | 1.7 |
| 140 lb | 2.5 | 2.0 |
| 160 lb | 2.8 | 2.3 |
| 180 lb | 3.2 | 2.6 |
| 200 lb | 3.5 | 2.9 |
One standard drink is 14 g of alcohol: a 12 oz beer at 5%, 5 oz of wine at 12% or 1.5 oz of 40% spirits.
2. Why this is not a safe number
- NHTSA notes that even at 0.02% people show some loss of judgment and a decline in the ability to do two things at once.
- The limit is 0.08% in every state except Utah (0.05%), 0.04% for commercial drivers, and zero tolerance under 21.
- Larger pours and craft beers contain more than one standard drink.
Use the BAC Calculator for an estimate, and the full BAC chart for more weights.
3. Frequently asked questions
How many drinks to reach 0.08?expand_more
About 2.8 for a 160 lb man and 2.3 for a 160 lb woman at the peak, with no time elapsed.
Does 0.08% mean I am safe below it?expand_more
No. Impairment begins well below the legal limit.
Does drinking over time change it?expand_more
Yes, the body eliminates roughly 0.015% per hour on average, so spreading drinks lowers the real figure.
What counts as one drink?expand_more
14 g of alcohol: 12 oz of 5% beer, 5 oz of 12% wine or 1.5 oz of 40% spirits.
4. Sources
- menu_bookNIAAA: What is a standard drink?
- menu_bookNHTSA: Drunk Driving