| GENERAL RULE OF THUMB: As a general rule, disregarding things like individual weight, sex and personal metabolic rate, 2 standard drinks (see definition below), consumed during the first hour of drinking, will increase a person's level of blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to approximately .05% Remember that, for now, in Missouri, to be legal is defined as less than .08% for an adult. If you continue drinking one standard drink per hour after that, then your blood alcohol level should remain very near .05% The key to using this general rule to estimate your BAC, is to make a mental note of the time you started drinking, and the exact number of drinks consumed. As an example, to figure out if you are over .05%, count the hours since you started and then add 1 to the number. If you started drinking at 7:00 PM, and it is now 9:00 PM, 2 hours have passed. Add 1, and you get 3, which is the number of standard drinks you could have consumed and still be close to .05% BAC. If 3 hours have passed, then add 1, and you can consume 4 standard drinks, to still be around .05%. Another way to look at it, if you are trying to pace yourself, is to allow for 2 standard drinks the first hour, and only 1 standard drink for each hour after that. The General rule works best for a man weighing aprox. 170 pounds. It will not be accurate for a 120 pound woman. STANDARD DRINK, DEFINITION: For use in making calculations, it would be generally correct to say that the typical American beer, with a volume of 12 fluid ounces, and an alcohol content of 5%, is approximately equivalent to an average 5 ounce glass of wine or 1.25 ounces (typical shot) of whiskey; and any one of the three could be considered a standard drink. Some beers are less than 5%, but many are more than 5%, particularly certain imports. Micro breweries have become extremely popular in the United States, and often the local brews produced will be well over 5%. If in doubt, ask the Master Brewer, who can usually tell you the alcohol content of each beer produced. Another very important variable is the glass size. It is not uncommon for many restaurants and bars, to use 16 ounce glasses. Some, even offer a 20 ounce glass. With the variable alcohol content in different wines, beers and spirits, along with the variables in glass sizes, not to mention the pour of your Bartender, determining your Standard drink count can be more than a little confusing. So, perhaps it really is better to simply not drive at all after you have been drinking.
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