Many people who are feeling slightly impaired by alcohol may decide that it is still safe for them to drive. An example could be someone who spends the evening watching a football game at a sports bar with their friends. When they get out to the parking lot, they decide that they do not feel that impaired, and they are going to drive home.
In some cases, these drivers find themselves under arrest. They are very surprised to discover just how high their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) really is. They never believed they were that impaired or that they would face legal charges. Why does this happen?
BAC is different for everyone
For one thing, you cannot really guess what your BAC is going to be, even if you know how many drinks you have had. Different people will process alcohol a bit differently. The impact of that alcohol can also be affected by factors like body weight, age or sex. A 100-pound woman who has three drinks may have a much higher BAC than a 200-pound man who has the exact same drinks, for example.
Additionally, alcohol itself impairs a person’s judgment. It lowers their inhibitions and makes them more likely to take risks.
As such, someone who has been drinking may be unable to accurately determine just how impaired they feel. They may also feel emboldened to err on the side of believing that they are sober enough to drive. Looking back the next day, when they are actually sober, they may realize that they were far too intoxicated to get behind the wheel.
These types of mistakes in judgment can lead to serious criminal charges, so it is important for those who have been arrested to know what defense options they have.
