FAQs About Blood Alcohol Content

Read a few FAQs about blood alcohol content to better understand the terminology. You hear the term all the time, mainly in reference to how much you can drink or how much you did drink. In terms of the law, you are considered under the influence if your blood alcohol levels are above a certain limit, but what is blood alcohol content? Here are some answers to those burning questions.

Q: What does the term blood alcohol content mean?

A: Blood alcohol content (BAC) is the concentration of alcohol in your bloodstream. It is also known as blood alcohol concentration and blood alcohol level. Blood alcohol level is the most commonly used term when it comes to legal purposes. Usually blood alcohol content is measured in percentages. Limits vary by state, but the most common is 10% or 0.10. Anything that measures this level or above constitutes a drunk driving measurement and a possible hangover.

Q: How is blood alcohol content measured?

A: There are several ways to measure blood alcohol content. The most common way to measure alcohol consumption is with a breath gas analysis. It measures the mass of alcohol per volume of breath that is exhaled. The blood alcohol content is measured by determining the mass of alcohol by the mass of the body. The amount of alcohol you consume is not an ideal means of measurement because of the variations in weight, gender and body fat.