How Many Drinks Does it Take to Reach the Legal Limit in Georgia?

Your blood alcohol content (BAC) may determine whether or not you will be convicted of a DUI (driving under the influence) in Georgia. There are different BAC limits based on the age of the suspect. If the accused is less than 21 years old, they will be found driving under the influence (DUI) if they have a BAC of .02%. If a person is 21 years or older, a BAC of .08% or higher is considered driving under the influence. The .08% BAC limit is standard throughout the United States. The .08% was determined to be the bottom limit for when driving becomes dangerous for the person behind the wheel as well as others on the road.

Many people ask how many drinks does it take to reach the legal limit .08 in Georgia? Unfortunately, there is no one correct and straightforward answer to this question. Countless factors can impact the number of drinks it takes a person to become legally drunk. Some of the factors include but are not limited to:

• Weight
• Body fat percentage
• Length of time between drinks
• Frequency in which someone consumes alcohol (daily, weekly, occasionally)
• Type of drinks (beer, liquor, wine)
• Metabolism 

Many variables can affect how quickly or slowly you become legally drunk. Everyone absorbs and metabolizes alcohol at different rates; therefore, it is impossible to predict exactly when someone will reach the .08% limit. Some studies have shown that for each drink, your BAC could increase by as much as .05. As a result, it does not take much to become legally under the influence. One study estimated that a 140-pound person reaches .081 at three drinks while a 200lb person may not reach .08 until 5 drinks.

Alcohol, however, does affect people differently.  A BAC of .08% will cause a person to:

• Experience poor muscle coordination (ex: trouble balancing, talking, slower reaction time)
• Have difficulty in detecting danger
• To demonstrate impaired judgment, self-control, reasoning, and memory

When a person drives with a BAC of .08% some signs could include but are not limited to:

• Lack of speed control
• Impaired perception
• Lack of concentration (ex: swerving, missing turns, etc.)
• Inability to perform divided attention tasks

In sum, there is no way to know exactly when someone will reach the legal limit. It is important to know your limits and to always exercise caution when drinking and especially when driving. If you are ever unsure about whether you should drive, you should err on the side of caution and call an Uber or have a friend or family member pick you up. Being arrested for DUI in Georgia will carry significant consequences; therefore, it is very beneficial to be safe rather than sorry. 

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If you or a loved one has been charged with a DUI or a related crime, we are here to help. Richard Lawson and his team of Georgia DUI Attorneys have over 50 combined years of experience. If you have a question about a DUI, please do not hesitate to call our office. Speak with one of our experienced Georgia DUI Lawyers today about how we can help with your case. The DUI process can be overwhelming and confusing. Let us help you with your case today. Contact us to speak with a knowledgeable Attorney.