Alcohol Information Quick Facts
What IS a drink?
1 drink =
- 12 oz of beer
- 4.5 oz of wine
- 1.5 oz of 80 proof distilled liquor
What does alcohol do?
| Low Doses: |
Medium Doses: |
High Doses: |
| Reduced Tension |
Slurred Speech |
Vomiting |
| Lower Inhibitions |
Impaired Judgment |
Breathing Difficulties |
| Impairs Concentration |
Poor Decisions |
Unconscious |
| Slows Reflexes |
Drowsiness |
Coma |
| Impairs Reaction Time |
Altered Emotions |
Death |
| Reduces Coordination |
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What does BAC mean?
Blood Alcohol Concentration is the percentage of alcohol in your blood. For example, a .08 alcohol level means that .08 percent of your bloodstream is alcohol -- the higher the alcohol content, the more the alcohol affects your system and the more dangerous it gets.
General effects of BAC levels on the body:
| BLOOD ALCOHOL CONTENT |
POSSIBLE EFFECTS |
| .02% to .04% |
Lightheaded - Mildly relaxed, mood may be mildly intensified. .02% legal definition of intoxication in Colorado for people under 21 years of age. |
| .05% to .07% |
Buzzed - Feel warm and relaxed, good moods are better and bad moods are worse, euphoria, may talk louder/act bolder than usual |
| .08% |
Legal definition of intoxication in Colorado for people 21 years and older. |
| .08% to .10% |
Legally Impaired - May slur speech, balance/motor skills become impaired, sight/hearing ability clearly diminished, judgment/self-control impaired, may take poor/risky sexual choices. |
| .11% to .15% |
Drunk - "High," balance very impaired, judgment, memory and motor skills impaired, may forget how many drinks you have had past this point, men may have trouble functioning sexually. |
| .16% to .19% |
Very Drunk - Euphoria may give way to unpleasant feelings (depression), difficulty talking/walking/standing, sharp increase in chances of physically injuring yourself or others, may experience a blackout at this level or higher, nausea, dizzy, blurred vision. |
| .20% |
Confusion and Disorientation - May need help to stand or walk; if you hurt yourself, you probably won't realize it because the alcohol has numbed your pain and your judgment is so impaired you might not do anything about it; nausea and vomiting common, getting very dangerous because gag reflex is impaired, so you could choke if you do throw up (especially if you black out). |
| .30% |
Stupor - Likely to pass out involuntarily (as opposed to lower BAC's where you may decide to stop drinking and go to sleep); if pass out, may be difficult for others to wake you; possible to die from alcohol poisoning or choking on vomit at this level and higher |
| .35% |
Equivalent to general anesthesia, breathing may stop. |
| .40% |
Coma likely, breathing and heartbeat slowed to dangerous levels due to slowdown in nerve activity. Death possible at this level. |