How Many Beers is .08?

Q: What is my BAC after 2 beers?

Two standard drinks or beers will produce a blood alcohol concentration of roughly .04.

Q: Can I drive after 2 beers?

2 beers will usually keep you under the legal limit, but this doesn't mean that it's safe.

Q: How many beers does it take to stay under .08 an hour?

As long as someone consumes only 1 drink per hour, then you are considered safe to drive.

How many beers is .08 is asked often to attorneys because it can be the difference between a drunk driving charge, being negligent for a car accident, and in general just breaking the law. Reaching a .08 level on the blood alcohol concentration scale is going to differ on many different factors. As a very basic rule, it will take an adult male consuming about four drinks over a two hour time frame.

Having said this, everyone processes alcohol within their body differently, have different body weight, and food consumption will differ as well. Since the blood alcohol level will differ so greatly person to person, it’s important to know your own personal limits and how it effects you in order to stay safe while having a few drinks and then driving.

What Is Considered a “Standard Drink” and Blood Alcohol Content?

A standard drinks is way to compare how much alcohol you are ingesting whether it is a beer, glass of fine, hard liquor, seltzer, etc. The United States sets this “standard drink” as 14 grams of pure alcohol. Here is a short list of the most popular type of drinks and how much makes up a standard drink.

12 fluid ounces of beer
8.5 fluid ounces of malt liquor
5 fluid ounces of wine
1.5 fluid ounces of liquor

Even this short list isn’t 100% accurate because all of these drinks can have differing strengths. Even drinking beer will have variability.

For example, a Bud Light will have less alcohol than a IPA such as a pint sized craft beer like Two Hearted Ale by Bell’s. Some wines are also stronger than others. Not all liquors are created equal either. Moonshine is going to have a higher blood alcohol concentration BAC than most shelf liquors such as Jack Daniels.

When you are making a drink or buying one at a bar, exact measurements are rarely used. A shot of fireball at one bar will usually be slightly different than the amount poured at another bar. One drink is never the same as another. This makes it even more difficult to calculate how many drinks it takes to reach a .08 blood alcohol concentration.

In general, one drink will increase your blood alcohol content by about 0.02%. In Michigan and most other states, a 0.08% BAC is the legal alcohol limit and will take about 4-5 drinks to reach that level based on your weight, age, gender, and metabolism.

What Other Factors Affect Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)?

The most important factor when it comes to determining a person’s BAC is their body size or weight. The larger the person, the more alcohol it’s going to take to reach the legal limit of .08.

For example, a large male weighing 300 pounds can consume much more alcohol before becoming legally drunk than a smaller woman who only weighs 120 pounds for example. Weight or lean body mass will largely determine how many beers you can safely have. There is no direct correlation however. If you weight twice as much as another individual, this doesn’t mean you can drink exactly twice as much.

If you weight 140 lbs it will take about 4 drinks per hour to reach a .08 BAC.
If you weigh 180 lbs it will take about 5 drinks per hour to reach a .08 BAC.
If you weight 220 lbs it will take about 6 drinks per hour to reach a .08 BAC

There is still going to be other variables that effect how much you can drink before reaching the .08 BAC level. Your metabolism, how you absorb alcohol, and how much food you have in your stomach at the time will also play a large role. If you are a woman, you will normally reach a higher bac faster than men regardless of size.

How Many Drinks Can You Have Safely?

There is no way to correctly answer this question unless you have your own breathalyzer. There are simply too many factors to give you an exact number and feel safe that you are under the .08 limit.

Essentially it comes down to a formula of time vs. drinks while taking into affect your gender, weight, stomach content, and metabolism. Alcohol affects everyone differently. This formula is going to be different for everybody.

The best way to avoid going over the legal limit is to not drink in excess if you know you are going to be driving afterwards. This is the most responsible and safe way of drinking beer while still driving.

There are apps and devices that will act as a breathalyzer that will give you a pretty close reading, but it can still be different than the breathalyzer the police use. Just use common sense and give yourself plenty of leeway by only drinking in moderation if you will be driving soon after.

Can a Bartender or Myself Be Held Liable If Serving Alcohol To Guests

The short answer is yes, you can be held liable if you serve alcohol to guests that then later drives. If they are pulled over by the police or cause an accident, it is very possible that you could be criminally charged as well.

Servers and bartenders are held to a higher standard and there are law called “dram shop laws” which can hold those serving alcohol liable for the acts committed by the intoxicated individual.

Social hosts cannot be held liable for death and injuries in Michigan but this differs if the social host knowingly serves minors.

Drunk Driving Car Accident Statistics

It’s a well know fact that driving after drinking is dangerous and can be deadly. Of all accidents that happen in the United States, about 30% involve the consumption of alcohol. On average, about 10,500 people die every year is car accidents involving drunk driving or alcohol impairment.

In 2020, there were 11,654 deaths from alcohol related crashes in the US alone. That’s roughly one person every 45 minutes and an increase of nearly 15% from 2019.

Everyone is aware how driving after alcohol consumption, yet it is still happening at an alarmingly high rate. These accidents and deaths are preventable simply by having a designated driver, calling a sober friend, calling a taxi, or using a ride sharing service. Always plan a safe ride home if you know that you will be drinking.

Hire A Car Accident Attorney If You’ve Been Hit By a Drunk Driver

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident caused by a drunk driver, you need an experienced attorney to help you collect the compensation that you deserve. We offer free consultations and charge no fees unless you win your case. Call us today at (517) 347-900 now!


						
									What is my BAC after 2 beers?
					
						Two standard drinks or beers will produce a blood alcohol concentration of roughly .04.
					
									Can I drive after 2 beers?
					
						2 beers will usually keep you under the legal limit, but this doesn't mean that it's safe.
					
									How many beers does it take to stay under .08 an hour?
					
						As long as someone consumes only 1 drink per hour, then you are considered safe to drive.

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Matthew Clark

Content checked by Matthew Clark, personal injury attorney with The Clark Law Office. Matthew is the owner of The Clark Law Office and represents injury victims all over the State of Michigan. He has collected multiple million dollar verdicts and settlements for victims of auto accidents, dog bites, slip and fall, and medical malpractice. The main office is in Okemos, MI but you can also find us in Lansing and Eaton Rapids.