Blood alcohol level
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A person's blood alcohol level (BAL) (also known as blood alcohol concentration) is a figure calculated as every milligram of alcohol for every 100 milliliters of blood. For example, a BAL of .10 is 10 milligrams of alcohol for every 100 milliliters of blood.[1] In the United States, a BAL of over .08 is sufficient for a presumption of guilt[2] though if the driver is under 18 then any amount of alcohol can be grounds for a citation. However, any amount of alcohol can impair driving,[3][4] so the only way to remain totally safe from alcohol's effect is to refrain from drinking before driving.
A BAL of .4 is usually fatal.
References
- ↑ Blood Alcohol Level (BAL) Monitoring HabitSmart accessed June 24, 2007
- ↑ In 2019 Utah (a state heavily populated by Mormons who's religious beliefs do not allow for alcohol consumption) changed the legal BAL to 0.05,
- ↑ Alcohol's Effects Virginia Tech: College Alcohol Abuse Prevention Center accessed June 24, 2007
- ↑ In some jurisdictions a person can be charged with public intoxication even with a BAL below the legal limit, if the person is behind the wheel.