Most people do not intend to receive a DUI after a night out with friends. However, it is a very real possibility when you have too much to drink in a short period of time.
The best way to avoid a DUI charge is to arrange for alternate transportation when you know you will be drinking. However, you should also understand how much alcohol it takes to become inebriated.
Understanding standard drink sizes
Alcoholic beverages come in standard drink sizes, which vary according to the potency of the alcohol. Most types of beer have a 5% alcohol content, so the drink comes in a 12-ounce glass. Wine has a higher alcohol content at 12%, so it comes in a 5-ounce glass. Distilled spirits and liquor have the highest alcohol content at 40%, so they come in a 1.5-ounce “shot” glass. The more drinks you consume, the drunker you will become.
How Much You Can Drink Before Getting Drunk
It is important to know what constitutes a standard drink, as the number of drinks is a key metric in how quickly a person becomes inebriated. Drinking three alcoholic beverages raises your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to .05%. You may experience diminished alertness and problems steering. After four drinks, your BAC will elevate to the legal limit of .08%. Issues with concentration and short-term memory occur, as do difficulties with perception and information processing.
By five drinks, most people will have a BAC of .10%. Significant impairment is likely to occur, which will make it unsafe to operate a vehicle. You may also face an elevated penalty for DUI, which can incur higher fines and jail time, as well as the possible loss of your license.
