Estimate your blood alcohol content using the Widmark formula based on weight, gender, drinks, and time elapsed.
Quick Answer:The legal BAC limit in all US states is 0.08%. Your body metabolizes alcohol at roughly 0.015 BAC per hour. One standard drink (14g of alcohol) raises BAC by approximately 0.02-0.03 for an average person.
Estimated BAC
Calculating... g/dL
Time Until Sober
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Legal Status (0.08)
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Alcohol Consumed
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Standard Drinks Equivalent
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Drinks to Reach 0.08
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Impairment Level
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Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates only and should never be used to determine if you are safe to drive. BAC is affected by many factors not captured here, including food intake, medications, fatigue, and individual metabolism. The only safe amount of alcohol before driving is zero. Always use a designated driver or ride-sharing service if you have consumed any alcohol.
The Widmark formula estimates BAC by dividing the grams of alcohol consumed by the product of body weight in grams and a gender-based distribution ratio (0.68 for males, 0.55 for females), then subtracting the metabolism rate (0.015 per hour) multiplied by hours since drinking. The formula is: BAC = (Alcohol in grams / (Body weight in grams x r)) - (0.015 x hours).
In all 50 US states, the legal BAC limit for drivers 21 and over is 0.08%. For commercial drivers, it is 0.04%, and for drivers under 21, most states enforce a zero-tolerance policy of 0.00% to 0.02%. Even below the legal limit, alcohol impairs reaction time and judgment.
On average, the body metabolizes alcohol at a rate of about 0.015 BAC per hour, which roughly corresponds to one standard drink per hour. A standard drink contains 14 grams of pure alcohol, equivalent to 12 oz of beer (5% ABV), 5 oz of wine (12% ABV), or 1.5 oz of distilled spirits (40% ABV). Factors like body weight, food intake, and liver health can affect this rate.