Based on your body weight and the speed at which you consume alcohol, you can calculate how many drinks it will take to make driving inadvisable.
Given the harsh penalties for DWI in the state of New York, your decision to drink and drive could have life-changing consequences.
The importance of your BAC
Blood alcohol concentration levels vary from person to person because it is based on both gender and body weight. Women can become intoxicated after having fewer drinks than men. However, in general, three or more drinks will cause negative effects for anyone.
Two drinks
After having two standard drinks, a man who weighs 150 pounds will have a BAC of about 0.05 percent. His reaction times will become slower and his motor skills will decline enough that his driving performance will be adversely affected. It will take four hours for his BAC to return to 0.00 percent. A man of 200 pounds will have a BAC of 0.04 percent and it will take two hours for his blood alcohol content to reach 0.00 percent once again.
Three drinks
The amount you drink and the speed at which you drink will determine how much control you have over your driving skills. After three drinks, a man who weighs 150 pounds will have a BAC of 0.08 percent, which is the legal limit across the country. It will take five hours for his BAC to return to zero. Meanwhile, the alcohol he consumes will impair his judgment, perception and coordination. A heavier man of 200 pounds will have a BAC of 0.06 percent, and it will take four hours for his BAC level to return to zero.
Facing arrest for DWI is a sobering thought. Everyone enjoys getting together with friends, and the fact is that beer, wine and other kinds of alcohol are often present. However, if you stop to consider the effects of alcohol and the penalties you could face, you may either turn your car keys over to a sober friend or abstain from drinking altogether.