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Impact of Alcohol on Drivers
Under Georgia law, a person is considered drunk if his or her blood alcohol content or BAC is at or above .08. However, you can be arrested for driving under the influence or DUI with a BAC lower than the legal limit if you were impaired to the point that it impacted your ability to safely drive your vehicle.
Effects of AlcoholOnce you have consumed alcohol, it will enter your bloodstream and eventually find its way to your brain, where it will cause a number of symptoms, including:
- Clumsiness or lack of coordination
- Loss of inhibitions
- Feeling of euphoria
- Slowed hearing and vision
The time it takes for the alcohol to reach your brain and for you to feel its effects varies from person to person, as no two people are affected by alcohol in the same way. Many factors impact the way that each person’s body absorbs alcohol, and, in turn, their blood alcohol content. These factors include:
- Weight
- Height
- Gender
The presence or absence of food in a person’s system, as well as the amount of time between an individual’s last drink and when he or she gets behind the wheel also play a part.
Different Levels of “Drunk”Because there are so many factors in play regarding intoxication, there is no “standard” number of drinks that a person would need to consume in order to raise his or her BAC to the legal limit or an unsafe level.
For example, people who rarely drink may begin to feel impaired when their blood alcohol level rises to .02. On the other hand, a heavy drinker may feel nothing until his or her BAC reaches .08 or even higher.
BAC and Your DUI DefenseThe science behind blood alcohol content is highly technical and can be very confusing. If you are facing DUI charges, the attorneys at Kohn & Yager can walk you through your case and help you understand all of your legal options. Contact us today to schedule a free and confidential consultation.
