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0.05 per cent BAC
BAC levels vary from person to person. The amount of alcohol you can consume
before reaching the legal limit depends on factors such as:
n your size and fitness level. If you are unfit or of small build, it may take you less
than the standard number of drinks to exceed the legal limit;
n your gender. Alcohol is soluble in water. Men’s bodies generally have a higher
proportion of water than women’s. Therefore, consuming the same amount of
alcohol will usually cause a higher BAC in a woman than a man of a similar size;
n the amount of alcohol still in your blood from drinking the night before or
earlier in the day. If you still have traces of alcohol in your blood, your BAC will be
higher than normal after one standard drink; and
Spirits
(37-43% alc/vol)
= 1
Standard
drink
per 30ml
Wine
(10-14% alc/vol)
= 1
Standard
drink
per 100ml
(7.5per bottle) Pre-mixed drinks (5% alc/vol)
= 1.2 = 1.5
Standard Standard
drink drink
per 300ml per 375ml
Mid-strength beer (3-4% alc/vol)
= 0.8 = 1
Standard Standard
drink drink
per 285ml per 375ml
Full strength beer (4-6% alc/vol)
= 1.5 = 1
Standard Standard
drink drink
per 375ml per 285ml
Don’t drink and drive
n the amount of food in your stomach.
Food slows down the absorption of alcohol.
If you have not eaten a substantial meal
before drinking alcohol, your BAC may
reach the legal limit more quickly than if
you have had something substantial to eat.
What is a Standard Drink?
Any drink containing 10 grams of alcohol is
called a standard drink.
One standard drink will raise an average
person’s BAC by about 0.01 per cent
(grams of alcohol per 100ml of blood),
depending upon the factors mentioned. A
measurement of 0.05 per cent BAC means
that your body contains 50 milligrams of
alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.
The Department of Health advises that to
stay below 0.05 per cent BAC:
n an average sized, healthy woman should
have no more than one standard drink in
the first hour of drinking and then no more
than one standard drink per hour after that;
and
n an average sized, healthy man should
have no more than two standard drinks
in the first hour of drinking, then no more
than one standard