You may not intend on driving while drunk, but it can easily happen if you consume a certain number of alcoholic beverages before getting behind the wheel. The law states that drivers cannot operate a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08% or higher.
However, a lower BAC can still affect your ability to drive, with sometimes disastrous results. Here is how a certain number of drinks can put you at risk of a drunk driving charge.
Two drinks
After two alcoholic beverages, a person can have a BAC ranging between .04% and .05%. At this point, most people experience decreased reaction times, which can be deadly behind the wheel. A person may also feel extremely relaxed, which can render them less alert. While two drinks may not push you over the legal limit, it can still negatively impact your driving ability.
Three drinks
Having three alcoholic beverages can result in a BAC between .06% and .07%. Your ability to reason will diminish, and reaction times become even slower than before. Clarity of thinking can also decrease, which may impact your ability to make sound decisions.
Four drinks
By four drinks, your BAC will most likely have reached the legal limit of .08%. Along with facing a possible drunk driving charge, you will experience significant bodily effects. This includes problems with focusing and an inability to track movement. Reaction time will decrease even further, which can prevent you from responding to an unexpected event.
After four drinks, a person may have a BAC of .10% or higher. In this case, you must secure another way home that does not involve driving to protect yourself and others, while also avoiding a possible drunk driving charge.