Blood Alcohol Content
The definition of blood alcohol content is the concentration of alcohol in one's bloodstream, expressed as a percentage. Blood alcohol content, or BAC, is used to determine whether a person is legally intoxicated, especially in operating or attempting to operate a motor vehicle.
In Kansas, it is illegal to operate or attempt to operate a motor vehicle while having a BAC of .08% or above. If you are under 21 years of age, the Zero Tolerance Law makes it illegal to operate or attempt to operate a motor vehicle with a BAC of .02 or above.
There are many factors that can affect a person's BAC:
- Alcohol content of drinks consumed
- Period of time drinks are consumed
- Genetics
- Weight
- Personal Health
- Food Consumption
- Medication
BAC Chart for Males
| Approximate Blood Alcohol Percentage | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body Weight in Pounds | |||||||||
| Drinks | 100 | 120 | 140 | 160 | 180 | 200 | 220 | 240 | Notes |
| 0 | .00 | .00 | .00 | .00 | .00 | .00 | .00 | .00 | Only safe driving limit |
| 1 | .04 | .03 | .03 | .02 | .02 | .02 | .02 | .02 | Driving skills significantly affected |
| 2 | .08 | .06 | .05 | .05 | .04 | .04 | .03 | .03 | |
| 3 | .11 | .09 | .08 | .07 | .06 | .06 | .05 | .05 | Possible criminal penalties |
| 4 | .15 | .12 | .11 | .09 | .08 | .08 | .07 | .06 | |
| 5 | .19 | .16 | .13 | .12 | .11 | .09 | .09. | .08 | Legally intoxicated |
| 6 | .23 | .19 | .16 | .14 | .13 | .11 | .10 | .09 | |
| 7 | .26 | .22 | .19 | .16 | .15 | .13 | .12 | .11 | |
| 8 | .30 | .25 | .21 | .19 | .17 | .15 | .14 | .13 | Criminal penlties |
| 9 | .34 | .28 | .24 | .21 | .19 | .17 | .15 | .14 | |
| 10 | .38 | .31 | .27 | .23 | .21 | .19 | .17 | .16 | Death possible |
| Subtract .01% for each 60 minutes of drinking. One drink is 1.5 oz. of 80 proof liquor, 5 oz. of wine or 12 oz. of beer. | |||||||||
BAC Chart for Females
| Approximate Blood Alcohol Percentage | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body Weight in Pounds | ||||||||||
| Drinks | 90 | 100 | 120 | 140 | 160 | 180 | 200 | 220 | 240 | Notes |
| 0 | .00 | .00 | .00 | .00 | .00 | .00 | .00 | .00 | .00 | Only safe driving limit |
| 1 | .05 | .05 | .04 | .03 | .03 | .03 | .02 | .02 | .02 | Driving skills significantly affected |
| 2 | .10 | .09 | .08 | .07 | .06 | .05 | .05 | .04 | .04 | |
| 3 | .15 | .14 | .11 | .10 | .09 | .08 | .07 | .06 | .06 | Possible criminal penalties |
| 4 | .20 | .18 | .15 | .13 | .11 | .10 | .09 | .08 | .08 | Legally intoxicated |
| 5 | .25 | .23 | .19 | .16 | ..14 | .13 | .11 | .10 | .09 | |
| 6 | .30 | .27 | .23 | .19 | .17 | .15 | .14 | .12 | .11 | |
| 7 | .35 | .32 | .27 | .23 | .20 | .18 | .16 | .14 | .13 | Criminal penlties |
| 8 | .40 | .36 | .30 | .26 | .23 | .20 | .18 | .17 | .15 | |
| 9 | .45 | .41 | .34 | .29 | .26 | .23 | .20 | .19 | .17 | |
| 10 | .51 | .45 | .38 | .32 | .28 | .25 | .23 | .21 | .19 | Death possible |
| Subtract .01% for each 60 minutes of drinking. One drink is 1.5 oz. of 80 proof liquor, 5 oz. of wine or 12 oz. of beer. | ||||||||||