In Missouri, you can be charged with a DUI if your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) registers 0.08% or higher, even if there is no other evidence of impairment. As there’s no way to be sure of your BAC unless you actually take a chemical test—despite what various charts and smartphone apps say about your weight, gender, and tolerance—it’s best to avoid driving with any amount of alcohol in your system. After all, a number of factors can influence BAC, including the following. 

3 Factors That Can Affect Blood Alcohol Concentration 

1. Rate of Consumption 

The body can only metabolize a limited amount of alcohol at a time. Generally speaking, it takes a healthy liver one hour to process a single serving of alcohol (i.e., 12 ounces of standard beer, 5 ounces of standard wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor). As such, having several drinks over a relatively short period will force your BAC to rise considerably faster than normal because your body can't process it all at once. 

2. Interacting Medications 

There are a number of drugs that can interact poorly with alcohol. Depending on the nature of the interaction, mixing could make you impaired a lot faster. Some of the most commonly used medications that should not be taken with alcohol include barbiturates, oxycodone, lorazepam, and diphenhydramine. 

3. Stomach Contents 

Drinking on an empty stomach will only increase the risk of DUI charges. When there's no food in your stomach, your body absorbs the alcohol you drink a lot faster, thereby spiking your BAC sooner. Eating high-protein foods both before drinking and while you sip can help slow the absorption rate. 

If you attempt to monitor your BAC but end up facing DUI charges regardless, turn to Coyne, Cundiff & Hillemann, P.C. in Lake St. Louis, MO. Backed by more than 75 years of experience, their three attorneys are well-versed in a variety of legal areas, including personal injury law, criminal defense, and family law. To see what past clients have to say about the personalized guidance and strategic solutions they provide, visit their website. To start building your DUI defense, call (636) 561-5599.