Every 45 minutes, someone dies in a drunk driving accident despite the strict drinking and driving laws in the United States. In fact, if you are driving, your blood alcohol concentration, or BAC, can be no higher than 0.08 g/dL of blood.
However, you may also receive skewed test results, giving you the right to fight against your DUI citation. These are a few things you should know about BAC.
The effects of alcohol on men and women
Women have a higher vulnerability to the effects of alcohol than men. In fact, their BAC levels tend to be higher than men’s even if they consume the same volume of alcohol by body weight. They also feel the effects longer and more rapidly than men.
What can affect your blood alcohol level
Your alcohol consumption is not the only factor that affects your BAC. For example, you may receive a false positive on your breathalyzer test if you take over-the-counter or prescription medications because some contain alcohol. Mouthwash also contains alcohol, and gum and mints contain sugar and sugar substitutes, which can affect your test results.
The ingredients in some foods can also change your BAC level. For instance, hot sauce, the yeast in bread, sugar in ripe fruits and sweet foods and dishes cooked in alcohol could give you a false positive result. Finally, you can receive a false positive if you have some health conditions, such as acid reflux.
A DUI conviction has lasting results, including limiting or eliminating your right to drive, increasing your insurance premiums and impacting your current or future employment. You are also presumed innocent if you plead “not guilty.” Therefore, it is worth fighting your charges, especially if you believe non-alcohol-related factors affected your BAC results.