Acronym for Blood Alcohol Concentration, generally given as a percentage, often cited for DUI law. The main factors affecting BAC are the amount of alcohol consumed, sex, and weight.

A rule of thumb commonly given is that drinks are metabolized at a rate of one drink per hour. However, alcohol is not instantly absorbed, and many factors affect how quickly alcohol enters the bloodstream. The faster it does, the higher the BAC will peak and the more intoxicated you become.

Typical BAC legal limits in most states are .08% or .10%. One drink is typically associated with a BAC of .02%, subject to the factors previously mentioned.

At a BAC of .05%, motor skills are somewhat impaired and personality may be significantly modified. At .10%, intoxication is quite observable, with motor skills and mental skills significantly impaired. By .15%, you are very drunk. This is when you stop walking straight and your speech gets slurred. LC50 of alcohol is .40%--if you drink this much, statistically your have a 50% chance of dying, though many individual factors come into play, as usual. Generally, passing out occurs before then.

While blaaf has written a good general overview on the topic, here's a little more detail on various blood alcohol concentrations and their effects.

• .02%. An average drinker reaches this level after one drink. There are no obvious outward effects, though the drinker may feel a slight buzz.
• .04%. Yeah, you've had a couple, you're feelin' pretty good, feel like talking to everyone, relaxed, chillin'. Your speech might start to slur a bit, but you can still walk straight, talk normally, all that shit. W00t! Yeah! Beer!
• .05%. Your muscular coodrination is a bit shaky. You amy stagger, but not obviously or anythin. Jokes will seem a kot funnier, and the fameous beer googgle eff fect will start to kick in. It's still legal to drive when your like this in most places but it's a bad idea! Dont do it, cause its dangerous.
• .06%. LIke, youre not soo smatr about decidsing things. YOu migt do shtipid shit when yer thish drunk. dRiving is very, very, very dangrousd. noding wen yor thish drunk ish dum. Youll be talknig and tpying all wierd. people thinks yu look shtupid, but whta do they know? gonna kick theyre fucking asshes, man! Yeah, Youtalking to ME!?! C'mon!
• .08%. wow im durank ahis shsit. am i lik talingfnuny or shometin? nah, ican stll wakl thi lin, see? thuis nodre obver here, hes the amn! i fucmking lfe him! hes fckin awsemo! man, I icuould raelyy go foir a cigrete rihgt now. yer mt btesf frenid, dude. hoo awnst anothr dinrk? hope we gotta desin...design...de-sig-nat-ed dri-ver... fukin cops ar gonna fuck su up f we don'. man im unghry. wat itme is it? hey shes hot,dude! imgonnagotlktoher.
• .10%. mannn, im fckni awtreds. whoias diricing hpne? igota pz rel ffinbid. tel me if anouones cumin. sht, isdon fewl sok gfod...
• .12%. RAAAAALPH HUUUURK BLEEEAAAARRGH. sht ithrwp onnecrpt. srry... im gna glye dnnw. *thump*
• .15%. laikewfimsofucindeinlicaonitw awvn atlik paor typoe r newaiothng. oihpe irembr thhhhs tomrro. therselfin luikds sco ekwl
• .30%. and up. bbnhjjjjjjjy nmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmhj nbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbmjy
• .50%. ...

Check the pipelinks for explication

Bac (?), n. [F. See Back a vat]

1.

A broad, flatbottomed ferryboat, usually worked by a rope.

2.

A vat or cistern. See 1st Back.

 

© Webster 1913.