1994 Pontiac Firebird Owner's Manual - Page 128

DRINKING THAT WILL RESULT I A BAC QF .05% N IN THE TIME SHOWN According to the American Medical Association, a 180-pound (82kg) person who drinks three 12-ounce (355 ml) bottles of beer in an hour will end up with a BAC of about 0.06 percent. The person would reach the same BAC by drinking three 4-ounce (120 ml) glassesof wine or three mixed drinks if each had1- 1/2 ounces (45 mi) of a liquor like whiskey, gin or vodka. It's the amount alcohol that counts. For of example, if the same person drank three double martinis (3 ounces or 90 ml of liquor each) withinan hour, the person's BAC would be close to 0.12 percent. A person who consumes foodjust before or during drinking will have a slightly lower BAC level. 100 ~ 120 140 160 180 200 220 240 Rnnv WEIGHT IN POUNDS The law in mostU.S. states sets the legal limit at aBAC of 0.10 percent. In Canada the limit is 0.08percent, and in some other countries it's lower than that. The BAC will be over 0.10 percent after three to six drinks (in one hour).Of course, as we've seen, it depends on how much alcohol is in the drinks, and how quickly the person drinks them. But it's very important to keep in mind that the ability to drive is affected well below a BAC of 0.10 percent. Research shows that the driving skills of many people are impaired at a BAC approaching 0.05 percent, and that the effects are worse at night.All drivers are impaired at BAC levels above 0.05 percent. Statistics show that the chance of being in an accident increases sharply for drivers who have a BAC of 0.05 percent or above. A driver with a BAC level of 0.06 percent (three beers inone hour for a 180-pound or 82 kg person) has doubled his or her chance of having an accident. At a BAC level of 0.10 percent, the chance of that driver having an accident is six times greater; at a level of 0.15 percent, the chances aretwenty-five times greater! And, the body takes about an hour to rid itself of the alcohol in one drink. No amount of coffee or number of cold showers will speed thatup. "I'll be careful" isn'tthe right answer. What if there's an emergency, a needto take sudden action, as when a child darts into the street? A personwith a higher BAC might not be able to react quickly enough to avoid the collision. 127..