Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is the amount of alcohol in the bloodstream.

A BAC of .05 means the person has .05 grams of alcohol in every 100 mL of their blood.

As the liver metabolizes alcohol at about one standard drink per hour, the BAC level drops unless more alcohol is consumed. BAC is measured with a breathalyzer, or by analyzing a sample of blood.

Factors affecting your BAC The more a person drinks, the higher their BAC. But 2 people who drink the same amount might register quite different BACs.

Body size: A smaller person will have a higher BAC than a larger person because the alcohol is concentrated in a smaller body mass.

Empty stomach: Someone with an empty stomach will reach a higher BAC sooner than someone who has just eaten a meal. Food in the stomach slows down the rate at which alcohol passes into the bloodstream.

Body fat: People with a lot of body fat tend to have higher BACs because alcohol is not absorbed into fatty tissue and the alcohol is concentrated in a smaller body mass.

Females: After drinking the same amount of alcohol, a woman will almost always have a higher BAC than a male. Because of all these variable factors, counting the number of standard drinks you consume can give only a rough guide to your

NOTICE / DISCLAIMER : The results generated by this Calculator are only estimates of an average healthy person's BAC .

The BAC estimates calculated on this page are for educational and entertainment purposes ONLY and are not to be used as an actual guide to determine whether or not a person is actually under the influence of alcohol or should operate a vehicle.