Driving Under the Influence

• Driving after consuming alcohol is considered a serious threat by over 90% of drivers, but about 15% admit to doing it in the past month
• Driving under the influence is illegal in all 50 states for individuals under 21
• Individuals who have been drinking should not drive
• Alcohol is involved in nearly one-third of all motor vehicle-related deaths
• Over 10,000 people die and over 1 million are injured annually in alcohol-related crashes

Odds of a Crash for a 150-Pound Male

• One to two drinks: risk nearly doubles
• Three to four drinks: risk increases three to seven times
• Five to six drinks: risk increases 13 to 20 times
• Seven to eight drinks: risk increases 55 to 85 times

BAC and Risk

• The higher the blood alcohol concentration (BAC), the greater the risk of a fatal crash
• Young drivers (16-19) with a BAC of 0.02% to 0.05% are seven times more likely to be killed in a crash than sober drivers.
• At a BAC of 0.085%, young drivers are 40 times more likely to be killed than a sober driver, and 20 times more likely than a 55-year-old with the same BAC.
• A BAC of 0.12% makes a 16-19 year old 90 times more likely to die in a car crash compared to a sober driver.

Increased Risk

• Young people are more affected by alcohol than older adults
• Limited driving and drinking experience can be a deadly combination
• Even small amounts of alcohol impairs driving skills

How Alcohol Affects the Body and Driving Ability

• Pure alcohol is a depressant drug that impairs the central nervous system
• Alcohol is absorbed directly into the bloodstream without being digested
• The bloodstream carries alcohol to all parts of the body, affecting muscle control, thinking, and behavior

Alcohol and the Brain

• Alcohol affects the part of the brain controlling good decisions
• Sedative effects impair judgment, often unnoticed by the drinker
• The brain is affected by alcohol which controls social inhibitions
• These effects begin with the consumption of only one drink

Effects of Alcohol on Vision

• Visual acuity/sharpness: Vision can become blurry
• Side vision: Reduces side vision
• Color distinction: Reduces your ability to distinguish colors
• Night vision: Reduces your eyes' ability to regulate the amount of light
• Distance judgment: Decreases ability to accurately judge distances
• Focus: Slows the eye's ability to change focus

Alcohol and Behavior

• Consuming alcohol in one hour can alter behavior depending on drinks consumed

Behavior Affects Based on BAC

• One drink (BAC of 0.02%-0.03%): inhibitions are lowered and judgment is affected
• Two drinks (BAC of 0.04%-0.05%): reaction time slows down
• Three drinks (BAC of 0.06%-0.07%): judgment is unsound
• Four drinks (BAC of 0.08%-0.09%): hearing, speech, vision, and balance are adversely affected
• Five drinks (BAC of 0.10%-0.11%): most behaviors are affected, body parts do not work together
• Twelve drinks (BAC of approximately 0.30%): coma or deep sleep is possible

Amount of Alcohol in Typical Beverages

• It is important to know the details about the drink you are consuming to understand alcohol content
• Beer is the most common beverage consumed by drivers arrested for DWI/DUI
• After only 1-2 drinks, the differences between beverages might be small, but after additional drinks are consumed, the differences can become substantial, leading to a higher BAC
• Concentrations of alcohol may vary depending on drink size

Alcohol in Typical Beverages

• Beer: 12 ounces of regular beer (5% alcohol) contains 0.6 ounces of pure alcohol
• Light Beer: 12 ounces of light beer (4% alcohol) contains 0.48 ounces of pure alcohol
• Wine: A 5-ounce glass of wine (12% alcohol) contains 0.6 ounces of alcohol
• Whiskey: A 1.5-ounce serving of whiskey (80-proof, 40% alcohol) contains 0.6 ounces of alcohol
• Margarita: Contains 0.75 oz of alcohol (0.6 oz from tequila plus 0.15 oz from triple sec)

Factors Affecting BAC Level

• The level of alcohol in your bloodstream depends on various factors
• These factors include whether you are male or female, your body weight, the strength and size of the drink, whether there is food in your stomach, and the time spent drinking
• Alcohol affects men and women differently because women produce less alcohol dehydrogenase, reaching about 20% higher BAC than men

Body Weight and Alcohol

• Greater bodyweight can lead to lower BAC

Drink Strength and Size

• The stronger the drink, the high the BAC rises
• The larger the drink, the higher the BAC

Food and Alcohol

• Food in the stomach slows down the rate at which alcohol is absorbed

Speed of Drinking

• The faster someone drinks alcohol, the quicker BAC rises to its peak

Methods of Elimination

• Breathing: About 8% of alcohol is eliminated through breathing
• Perspiring: About 2% of alcohol is eliminated through perspiration
• Oxidation: About 90% of alcohol is removed by the liver through oxidation

BAC and Time

• It takes between 1 1/4 and 1 1/2 hours or longer to eliminate alcohol contained in one standard-sized drink

How to Prevent Drinking and Driving

• The safest option is simply to not drink and drive
• Choose a sober driver who can drive, or find another way to get home
• Drinking impairs driving ability and it is illegal for anyone under 21 to consume alcohol