Several reasons exist why some people can drink more than others and avoid a DUI. Alcohol impacts your ability to drive safely because it directly affects your brain. It changes your judgment, depth perception, and necessary motor skills. The effects of alcohol manifest differently in different people. So just because your friend can have a few drinks and function normally, does not mean that you can too.
The total amount of alcohol consumed, coupled with other moderating factors, determines the blood alcohol content (BAC). Factors that influence how and to what extent alcohol affects the brain include:
- How much and how often a person drinks
- The person’s age, gender, weight, genetics, and family history of alcoholism
- The age at which drinking started, and how long he or she has been drinking
- The person’s general health status
The DNA of a DUI
Enjoying a few drinks with co-workers after a long week is a common practice. Being a responsible driver, you know your limits and make sure you do not drink too much. Or at least, you think you did. Soon after, loud police sirens and bright flashing lights snap you into the present moment. You just got pulled over for running through a red light.
Even before the officer asks if you had anything to drink, a feeling of panic settles in your stomach. After taking a field sobriety test and a breathalyzer test, you end up under arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol. One of your coworkers may have had just as many drinks as you and did not face the same consequence. Some people can drink more than others and avoid a DUI.
It is important to understand the DNA of a DUI. The current legal BAC limit for drivers in the U.S. is 0.08 percent. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism estimates that men who consume five or more drinks in two hours bring their BAC to 0.08 percent or higher.
For women, it is four or more. It helps to know that the amount of pure alcohol content in a standard 12-oz can of beer, a 1.5 oz “shot” of 80-proof distilled spirits, or a 5-oz glass of wine, is 13.7 gr (0.6 oz). Driving in this state with a BAC of 0.08 or over, even if you feel okay, is considered driving under the influence of alcohol and against the law.
Knowing these facts about drinking and driving can lessen your likelihood of getting a DUI.
Factors That Lessen the Effects of Alcohol
Several factors lessen the effects of alcohol and diminish the absorption, distribution, and metabolism of alcohol. Oftentimes, eating a meal while you drink delays its effects. This is because the presence of food in the stomach slows absorption. Slowly sipping more diluted drinks also allows the body to metabolize it while at the same time absorbing the next one.
Most people believe that having coffee or splashing water on your face will help, but the fact is that only time can. Most people eliminate about one drink from their system every hour.
If You Were Arrested for DUI, Our Team Can Help
Pennsylvania is serious about ensuring the safety of our roads. To help reduce the dangers of our drinking and driving problem, the state has passed very specific laws drivers must obey. If you are facing prosecution for DUI charges, consider contacting a DUI lawyer in Pennsylvania. Our team at McKenzie Law Firm, P.C. can help you understand your rights and defenses. Call 610-680-7842 today for a free consultation.
