3 Reasons to Beware of BAC Charts & Calculators
September 24, 2015
Blood alcohol content (BAC) charts and calculators online estimate people’s BACs based on their weight and gender. While these tools can be useful to get a general idea of how much alcohol it takes to raise your BAC to some amount, they should not be relied for accurate BAC info – or when trying to figure out if you are sober enough to drive.
This is because these charts and calculators have some distinct limitations that make their numbers general estimations at best. Below, we will reveal some of the specific limitations of BAC charts and calculators.
Don’t Rely on BAC Charts & Calculators Because They…
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When you need accurate info about your blood alcohol content, don’t look to BAC charts & calculators, our Denver & Boulder DUI lawyer explains. Here’s why.
Make assumptions about the strength of a drink and a serving size – Not every type of drink has the same alcohol content, and BAC charts and calculators do not consider this. For instance, someone’s BAC will likely not be the same if he has four beers versus four long island ice teas. Similarly, charts and calculators make assumptions that a serving size is a specific number of ounces.
Given that alcohol content and serving sizes can vary widely, BAC charts and calculators tend to provide conservative estimations, possibly even underestimations, of people’s actual BACs.
- Don’t factor in time and whether or not people have eaten – Another significant pair of related defects associated with BAC charts and calculators is the fact that they cannot adjust their estimations based on how quickly or slowly people consume alcoholic beverages and based on whether or not people have empty stomachs.These two factors can significantly impact BACs, as people’s blood alcohol content can jump up way more when they drink alcoholic beverages very quickly (as their bodies won’t have had time to metabolize the alcohol) and/or when there is nothing in their bellies to start soaking up the alcohol.
- Don’t factor in other personal details – Other things that BAC charts and calculators don’t account for are people’s metabolisms, which can vary widely, as well as whether people may be taking medications or have other personal circumstances that could affect how their bodies process alcohol.
So, the bottom line is that it’s best not to rely on BAC charts and calculators when you are seriously trying to determine your blood alcohol content or when you may be looking for some guidance on when it’s safe to drive. Instead:
- Consider getting a portable breathalyzer. There are even apps these days that can evaluate people’s BACs (though you may want to use these with caution also).
- Always error on the side of caution if you are not positive that you are sober enough to drive.
- If you happen to be accused of drunk driving in the future, contact us for the strongest possible defense.
Contact a Denver & Boulder DUI Lawyer at the Griffin Law Firm
Have you been charged with a DUI? If so, you can turn to the Denver & Boulder DUI lawyer at Griffin Law Firm for experienced help and the best possible defense.
To receive a complete evaluation of your case, along with professional advice regarding your best options, contact us by calling (303) 280-1070 or by emailing us using the contact form at the top of this page.
The accused are innocent until proven guilty and we believe everyone deserves to be treated fairly.
Christopher Griffin
It is our goal to ensure that every person charged with a crime is given the experienced and caring representation they deserve.
Christopher Griffin