[Students] Watch Your BAC

[Joan Lawrence]

RU Connected?

N A T I O N A L  C O L L E G I A T E  A L C O H O L  A W A R E N E S S  W E
E K

 

WE JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU KNEW HOW TO WATCH YOUR BAC!

 

Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) Level Information and Chart

Of course, it is important to define what is meant by "a drink". Normally, a
drink is thought of as:

n One beer

n One mixed drink

n One glass of wine

n One shot of alcohol

But it is important to understand that the formal definition is actually:

n 12 ounces of beer

n 4-5 ounces glass of wine (12-15% alcohol by volume)

n 1.5 ounces of 80 proof (40% alcohol) distilled spirits

Each of these contains the same amount of pure ethanol, about 0.6 ounces. In
other words, a 20-ounce mug

of beer is considered more than a drink-it is actually closer to a drink and
a half. If a person orders a mixed

drink at a bar or at a party, it may be possible that whoever mixed the
drink may have put in two or three

ounces of alcohol.

All of these factors will determine the amount of alcohol in a person's
blood, which is measured as the BAC,

or Blood Alcohol Concentration.

 

Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) Levels

.01-. 07 You feel mildly relaxed, a little lightheaded. Your inhibitions are
loosened, and you feel less cautious.

Judgment abilities are slightly impaired. No real feeling of the depressant
effects of alcohol seen yet.

Your behavior may become exaggerated and your emotions intensified.

.08-.13 Your motor skills are starting to become impaired and your sense of
balance may be compromised.

Your emotions become a bit exaggerated-perhaps loud, perhaps aggressive. It
is dangerous (and

illegal) for you to drive. Your judgment is impaired, and you may have
difficulty evaluating sexual

situations. You believe you are functioning better than you actually are.

.14-.19 The "good feelings" of euphoria begin to give way to some negative
feelings such as anxiety and

restlessness. You may begin to feel tired because the depressant qualities
of alcohol begin to take

effect. If you are a man, you will have difficulty achieving or maintaining
an erection. You will have

trouble walking or standing, and you will greatly increase the chance of
hurting yourself physically.

You may get nauseous.

.20-.24 You feel confused and disoriented. At this point you might
experience nausea and, since your gag

reflex is impaired, you may choke on your vomit. You have trouble standing.
You may not realize that

you hurt yourself because you might not feel pain. Blackouts become likely
at this point.

.25-.29 Almost all aspects of your brain are severely impaired. You may have
passed out by this point.

Vomiting is likely and the chance of asphyxiation on your own vomit is
greatly increased. If you have

not passed out, the risk of personal injury is high because you have little
to no physical control. You

are emotionally numb.

.30-.34 If you are still awake, you are in a stupor. You likely have no
comprehension of where you are or what

you are doing. There have been numerous cases of alcohol poisoning and death
in this range of

BAC. You are in need of medical help.

.35 & UP You have reached the level of surgical anesthesia. Coma is
possible. The lungs and heart rate are

slowing to the point of stopping. You need immediate medical help.

 

This information is brought to you by Campus Wellness

 

Facts can be found at: http://www.bacchusgamma.org/pdfs/ncaaw/NCAAWBAC07.pdf
<http://www.bacchusgamma.org/pdfs/ncaaw/NCAAWBAC07.pdf>  

 

 

Shelly Matikiewicz

Associate Director-Campus Recreation

Morris Recreation Center

Texas A&M University- Commerce

 

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