We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
WiseGEEK

Advertiser Disclosure

Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

How We Make Money

We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently from our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

What is Blood Alcohol Content?

By Jacob Queen
Updated May 17, 2024
Our promise to you
WiseGEEK is dedicated to creating trustworthy, high-quality content that always prioritizes transparency, integrity, and inclusivity above all else. Our ensure that our content creation and review process includes rigorous fact-checking, evidence-based, and continual updates to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Editorial Standards

At WiseGEEK, we are committed to creating content that you can trust. Our editorial process is designed to ensure that every piece of content we publish is accurate, reliable, and informative.

Our team of experienced writers and editors follows a strict set of guidelines to ensure the highest quality content. We conduct thorough research, fact-check all information, and rely on credible sources to back up our claims. Our content is reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy and clarity.

We believe in transparency and maintain editorial independence from our advertisers. Our team does not receive direct compensation from advertisers, allowing us to create unbiased content that prioritizes your interests.

Blood alcohol content is a measurement of the quantity of alcohol in a person’s blood stream. It is often measured for legal purposes using several different methods, including breathalyzers and blood tests. According to most experts, once blood alcohol content reaches 4 one-hundredths of a percent, that is usually enough to begin impairing someone’s abilities. Over time, blood alcohol content will generally decrease as the body metabolizes the alcohol, which is actually treated like a toxin within the digestive system. The physical size of a person also plays a role in determining how much alcohol it takes to raise blood alcohol level.

Alcohol is able to absorb through the tissues in the mouth, so a person’s blood alcohol level generally begins to rise as soon as he takes his first drink. Alcohol is also absorbed in the digestive system, especially in a person's small intestine. Once it enters the blood stream, the body starts to treat it as a toxin.

When the body identifies a toxic substance, it uses the liver to facilitate digestion. The liver has the job of eliminating toxins by converting them into substances that the body can tolerate. This is why alcohol can have a negative effect on the liver. Eventually, a person's liver can be exhausted through the process of detoxifying the blood stream. All this work can cause the liver to develop scar tissue, which is the major characteristic of cirrhosis.

When people consume alcohol for a long time, they eventually develop a stronger tolerance, and it may require a higher blood alcohol content to cause major intoxication. By contrast, in the very beginning, it may require very little alcohol to produce a pronounced effect and decrease a person’s ability to function properly. Many legal definitions of intoxication are based around a middle ground, and they may vary significantly in different places. For instance, 0.10% is a common legal limit in many areas, but it can also be set much lower than that.

Breathalyzers measure blood alcohol level by analyzing the air coming from the lungs, which release a certain amount of alcohol vapor when a person is intoxicated. The breath test is generally considered reliable enough for quick use in the field for police work. Some people also take blood tests as well for results that may potentially be more accurate.

WiseGEEK is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
See our Editorial Process Share Feedback

Related Articles

Discussion Comments

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.