What Does BAC Stand For?

Alcohol is an incredibly popular substance, but right along with that comes the responsibility to know just how much is too much and to make sure that drinking in public never puts other people at risk. Our BAC, or blood alcohol concentration, is the measure that authorities use to determine if we are over the legal limit. Understanding what BAC is, the risks associated with it, and the safe limits can help us be the responsible citizens that keep ourselves and others safe throughout our drinking experiences.

What Is BAC and How Is It Measured?

BAC is a proxy for the amount of alcohol in our system, as the concentration of alcohol in our blood is the primary way to measure if we are impaired. The amount of alcohol in our system is relative to gender, weight, and how much alcohol was consumed. Measuring BAC can include a breath test, a blood test, or a urine test by a professional, but that is in the clinical or legal setting.

Many devices on the market today offer an alternative way to measure BAC. Personal BAC testers are breathalyzers and blood alcohol testers that are designed to give an estimate of our BAC. By blowing into the device, it will measure the level of alcohol in our breath and then make an estimated calculation of what is likely to be our blood alcohol concentration.

Risks of BAC Beyond the Legal Limit

BAC tests are important to ensure that drinking does not become dangerous. The legal limit used for BAC varies from state to state, but the general level is .08% or lower. However, risks associated with intoxicated driving or behaviors occur at any level of BAC above zero. The risks increase dramatically at about .08%, but even at much lower levels, individuals can make bad decisions, have reactions that are delayed, motor skills that are impaired, and vision issues.

In addition to the risks associated with alcohol consumption and impaired behaviour, alcohol use can result in long-term health risks depending on the amount consumed throughout one’s lifetime. The World Health Organisation states that the safe limit of alcohol consumption to still be considered low-risk is one standard drink per day for womaen and two standard drinks per day for men.

Safe Limits and Alternatives

Whether one is of age or not, the responsible thing to do when consuming alcohol is to stay aware of the amount consumed and be aware of the surroundings. Keeping track of each drink is difficult beyond the first or second, but consider opting for non-alcoholic beverages periodically in order to give one’s body time to process the alcohol already in the system.

Limiting one’s drinking can also help reduce the risk of BAC rising too high. Having food in the stomach prior to drinking, drinking slowly, and consuming low-alcohol beverages can allhelp to keep BAC at a safe level. Never drink on an empty stomach and avoid carbonated beverages! They can lead to a higher BAC if mixed with alcohol.

In conclusion, knowing what BAC stands for and how to use it to monitor our drinking is essential for a responsible and safe drinking experience. Understanding the risks and using caution can keep us and others safe throughout our night out. Have you used a BAC estimator to track the amount of alcohol in your system?