What we call the blood alcohol level (also known as blood alcohol level, blood ethanol concentration and blood alcohol concentration) is the percentage of alcohol in your bloodstream. Alcohol testing allows law enforcement and medical professionals to objectively test the amount of alcohol in your body. In a previous article, we discussed in a fairly scientific way the effects of alcohol on your body, ranging from small amounts to excessive. So you should already know how dangerous drinking and driving is. If you`re having a drink with your meal, take responsibility for your actions by taking an Uber or letting someone else who hasn`t drink drive you home if you think you`re too drunk to get behind the wheel. However, if you get into the habit of driving after “just” having a few drinks with your dinner and think it would be safe and legal, then it may only be a matter of time before you`re stopped and arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, better known as DUI. As a reminder, driving under the influence of alcohol can lead to the following consequences: However, it should be emphasized that alcohol consumption should be moderate and should not exceed the recommended daily amount. And in case you`re wondering, “moderate drinking” is defined as one drink a day if you`re a woman and two drinks a day if you`re a man. This difference in quantity is due to the fact that men tend to be taller than women and their bodies are able to process alcohol differently. Therefore, women may have higher levels of alcohol in their blood than men when tested. A person`s weight, tolerance to alcohol, what they ate before drinking, and even their stress and fluid levels can cause blood alcohol concentrations to vary greatly. The state can prove your blood alcohol level is weakened, but it`s worth noting that the state doesn`t have to “prove” you`re drunk, only that alcohol has affected your ability to drive properly.
In the state of Florida and the rest of the country, a blood alcohol level of 0.08% or higher is considered intoxicated and therefore legally impaired to operate heavy machinery such as driving. Blood alcohol level is defined as the percentage of alcohol in your bloodstream at the time you take a field sobriety test. As you can see in the graphs on this page, the number of drinks needed to reach a particular blood alcohol level depends on several factors, such as your gender, weight, how quickly you consume beverages, and whether you consume enough food while drinking. This happens with different blood alcohol levels: once you receive the drug score and record a blood alcohol level of 0.08 or higher, you are considered too drunk to drive and are likely to be arrested for it and taken to the detention center. What about adults who have more than 0.08 g/dl in their bloodstream (or teens with more than 0.02 g/dl)? If you are the guilty party, a civil action for damages can be brought against you by the other party to the accident, especially if it can be proven that you have high levels of alcohol in your blood. The State of Florida may also file a criminal complaint against you because driving under the influence of alcohol is illegal in Florida. Breath tests are the easiest, although lawyers in front of jurors argue all the time that this is not accurate. Blood tests are the best, but as mentioned above, they require trained professionals and take a lot of time; Urinalysis is not as accurate as blood tests and breath tests and is only used as a last resort. While these charts are a good general guideline, it`s always up to you as an individual, as each of us reacts differently to alcohol and other substances. The chart does not take into account your individual body composition, medication intake, mood swings, or personal metabolic rate.
As a result, your blood alcohol level may actually be slightly higher or slightly lower than the chart for the number of drinks you consume. Note: State laws are constantly changing through legislative, judicial or other means. While FindLaw works hard to ensure the accuracy of its legal resources, it`s a good idea to thoroughly research the law or check it out with a lawyer to make sure you have the latest information. In Florida, it is a crime to sell or provide alcohol to someone under the age of 21. Anyone who violates this law is liable to six months in jail and/or a fine of up to $500. Offenders who are not authorized to sell alcohol also face a three- to six-month driver`s licence ban for the first offence and one year for each subsequent offence. In a place like Florida, where drinks are almost always available and almost every restaurant offers alcoholic beverages on their menus, it`s completely understandable that you, as a guest, would want to have a drink with your meal. Many people who have been charged with drunk driving in Fort Walton Beach think they were sober enough to drive because they only had small amounts of alcohol. The excuse “I only drank wine at dinner” had to be heard by the police at least a hundred times a month. While this may be true – while you`ve only had one drink, it might be pointless to argue with the authorities. The privilege of driving a motor vehicle, as well as criminal penalties, may be suspended if you are convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
Drunk driving is taken seriously in Florida and elsewhere because the crime can (and often does) cause serious injury or death. While you probably won`t spend time in jail for your first offense (other than maybe one night), the minimum length of detention for a second and third offense is 10 days and 30 days, respectively. But the cost of a DUI goes much further, including hefty fines and court fees, license suspension, and other negative consequences. If you have been charged with a DUI in Florida, make sure you understand the law and your rights. Under Florida law, a drinking establishment that wilfully serves alcohol to a person under the age of 21 or knowingly sells alcohol to a person habitually addicted to alcohol may be held liable for injury or damage caused by or resulting from the intoxication of the minor or habitual drunk. In Florida, it`s illegal to drive with a blood alcohol level of 0.08% or higher if you`re over the age of 21. If you`re under 21, the statutory blood alcohol level drops to 0.02% thanks to Florida`s zero-tolerance policy. This means that after a single drink, you can be charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. Alcohol consumption is illegal for minors, so you shouldn`t have to worry about getting a DUI until you`re 21.
But what happens when you do? The above fee explains the penalties you will receive for driving above the legal alcohol limit in Florida. These are the minimum sentences, and the judge can exercise his discretion and add additional fines or jail time. Florida operates under a “tacit consent law,” which means you agree to a breath alcohol or alcohol test every time you get behind the wheel. While you can refuse these tests if you are arrested, be aware that your licence will be automatically suspended for one year, whether or not you are later convicted of drunk driving. If you refuse again, your licence will be suspended for 18 months. Most of us don`t know how different types of alcohol affect our blood alcohol level or blood alcohol level. That`s why we can go out and drink endless beers in the pub, but it only takes two shots to get us dancing. Not knowing how different alcohols affect you can be very dangerous, so it`s helpful to understand how BAC works and how it relates to drunk driving laws in your state — in this case, Florida.
Alcohol enters the stomach and small intestine into the bloodstream in just 15 minutes. You get drunk when your blood alcohol level rises. Variables that can affect your blood alcohol level include weight, gender, age, water intake and food intake. This Act prohibits any person 18 years of age or older from holding a party at his or her place of residence and knowingly allowing a person under the age of 21 to drink or drink alcohol. Violations of this law carry up to 60 days in jail. Under this law, a person can avoid criminal liability by stopping the party or taking other reasonable steps to prevent a person under the age of 21 from drinking or drinking alcohol. Florida courts have ruled that this law imposes a duty of care on social hosts and creates a civil lawsuit for violations. The blood alcohol level can be tested in several ways: usually by blood, breath or urine. Yes, it`s like a thimble. A thimble full of 180% alcohol. To be convicted of a “per se” drinking and driving offense in Florida, the court must prove that your blood alcohol limit was above the legal limit when you were driving.