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Everyone knows that it's illegal for an adult to drink and drive "over the limit." Conversely,
it's not necessarily illegal to drink alcohol and then drive. Under the Texas DWI statutes,
you are committing a crime if you drive over a .08 blood alcohol level, or you're considered
"impaired" from drugs or alcohol. This presents a challenge to people who are responsible
adults who nonetheless like to enjoy a beer with a game at a sports bar, a glass of wine
with dinner out, or a cocktail with coworkers after a long day.
So, before we talk today about how much is too much, a quick disclaimer: if you're looking
to get as close to the line as possible while still staying under the limit, you're risking
your life, the lives of other, and your driver's license. Everyone's body reacts differently
to alcohol, and despite how tough and tolerant you think you might be, erring on the side
of caution is the route you should take when consuming alcohol before driving.
But enough of that. How much is too much? The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission has
produced a couple handy charts that we'll link to below that give a rough outline about
how much the average man or woman can drink and where that puts them on the blood alcohol
spectrum.
Let's use me as an example. Let's say I'm 160 pounds. *wink* After one regular pour
of scotch, which is about an ounce and a half, I'd be at about a .02. Now, the TABC chart
says I'm "possibly" impaired at this point at a .02, but it's safe to say I'm more than
capable of driving home safely. If I have two more soon after my first one, the chart
puts me at about .07. This is still under the limit of .08, but by now I'd say I'd probably
not get in the car and drive. Why? Two reasons. First, the chart says I'm "impaired." Remember,
.08 is not the only measure for proving drunk driving. You can be under .08 and still meet
the "impaired" definition. Second, many believe that the Intoxilizer 5000, the magic device
that supposedly measures your blood alcohol levels accurately, can be off by as much as
25%. Three drinks back to back get me a little nervously close to the line; still, others
might be comfortable with driving. That's an individual choice But anything after three,
and I'm in the clear danger zone.
Another important wrinkle to keep. The average male's liver can process anywhere from .015
to .025 per hour. That's roughly one drink for every 60 minutes. In other words, if you
drink three beers spaced out during a three hour football game, you're very, very likely
in the clear. But no matter how heavy of a drinker you might think you are, your liver
simply can't process much more than that.
So let's talk about how much WOMEN can drink. According to the best science available, women's
bodies unfortunately do not process alcohol as quickly as men's. Instead, women have to
stay about one drink behind their male counterparts in order to be safe. A woman who weighs about
160 pounds is probably drunk after two drinks, and is surely drunk after three, according
to the chart provided by the TABC. After three drinks, a 160 pound male is at approximately
.07, whereas a 160 pound woman is at .09.
So, to sum up, one drink per hour is likely safe for an average man or woman. Two drinks
per hour for a man is getting a little close to dangerous, but may well be OK. And women
have to stay about one drink behind men in order to be safe.
Remember: if you get a little tipsy, your body can process about a drink an hour. Either
do the math and wait it out, or call a cab.
If you've been charged with a DWI, you need an attorney who knows the science of how alcohol
impacts the body. It's not simple, but it IS vitally important to defending your case.