There are a few different factors that can influence how fast a person becomes intoxicated. Weight plays a major role, as do gender and meal schedules. Someone who drinks on an empty stomach may become intoxicated faster than someone who has eaten before drinking.
Once a person’s BAC has been elevated, however, how long do they have to wait before it gets back to zero? That rate is a bit easier to track, as a person’s BAC tends to go down by about 0.015% per hour.
It takes longer than people realize
This is a relatively slow rate of decline, so many people don’t realize just how long it takes for their BAC to drop.
For example, say that a person was drinking and had a BAC of 0.125%, which is well over the legal limit of 0.08%. On average, it would take them almost nine hours to get back down to a BAC of 0.00%. Even if someone waits for an hour after they stop drinking and then gets in the car, their BAC won’t be under the legal limit. They simply haven’t given their body nearly enough time to metabolize the alcohol.
It’s also important to note that you can’t speed this process up. For instance, some people say that energy drinks or coffee can help. But these drinks just wake you up and make you feel more alert due to the caffeine. They don’t change your BAC, so a cup of coffee isn’t going to help you get under the legal limit.
Criminal defense options
If you’re facing drunk driving charges, there is the potential that you could lose your license, have to pay fines and even spend time behind bars. This can have a major impact on your life, so it’s crucial that you understand what criminal defense options you have.