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In this document, toxicologist Dr. Michael Whitekus provides a comprehensive reference table outlining a spectrum of Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) levels. His analysis includes the number of drinks consumed to attain specific BACs and prominent clinical signs corresponding with specific BAC ranges. Dr. Whitekus’ reference also demonstrates how the relative risk of being involved in a motor vehicle crash increases exponentially with heightened BAC levels.
Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and alcohol consumption can be estimated based on scientifically valid standard methodology used by toxicologists [1] and this information can be used to answer key questions in alcohol related cases like the following;
This methodology relies on i) the principles of alcohol pharmacokinetics, ii) the gender, age, height and weight of the drinking individual, iii) the time period that they were reportedly consuming alcoholic beverages, and iv) the measured BAC and time of blood draw (if data are available) (1).
In Table 1 below the number of drinks a typical male or female would need to consume to generate the identified BAC, and the list of clinical signs that would be expected from the BAC range are listed along with the relative risk of being in a fatal car crash while driving at the identified BAC.
a. Based on a 5’10’’, 25 year old, 175 lb male.
b. Based on 5’4’’, 25 year old, 125 lb female.
c. Empty stomach, drinking alcohol for 60 minutes followed by 30 minutes of non-drinking activity. One standard drink equals 14 g of alcohol or 5 oz wine (12%), 12 oz beer (5%), 1.5 oz liquor (40%). Assuming an elimination rate of 18 mg/dL/h.
d. The relative risk (x times greater) of being in a fatal single motor vehicle crash compared to driving sober. Data are for male/female, age 21-34.
ND= No data
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