NYS Department of Motor Vehicles
Governor's Traffic Safety Committee

BAC - blood alcohol concentration

Alcohol graphic

THE TRUTH ABOUT 
DRINKING AND DRIVING

 

Your risk of having a crash increases with EACH alcoholic drink!

 

YOUR BAC, IMPAIRMENT, AND RISK OF HAVING A CRASH INCREASES 
WITH EACH ALCOHOLIC DRINK CONSUMED!

  • The percent of alcohol in your blood determines your Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC).
  • Mixing alcohol with certain other drugs causes unpredictable increased impairment.
  • Many prescription or over-the-counter drugs impair your ability to drive.

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Nothing sobers you up
Nothing reduces your BAC
ONLY TIME CAN MAKE YOU SOBER!

THE TRUTH ABOUT DRINKING AND DRIVING

Myth I only drink beer, so I can drive.
Fact It doesn't matter what kind of alcohol you drink.  Your driving is affected by the amount of alcohol you consume.
Myth I only had a couple, so I can drive.
Fact Even one alcoholic drink impairs your ability to drive.
Myth Coffee, a cold shower, fresh air, or exercise will sober me up.
Fact Only the passage of time gets you sober.  Coffee, a cold shower, fresh air, or exercise have no effect on how fast the liver breaks down alcohol and passes it out of the system.  Rates of "sobering up" vary.

 

Alcoholic beverages
Liquor 
1 1/2 oz at 80 proof		 Beer
12 oz at 5%		 Wine
5 oz at 12%		 Wine Cooler
12 oz at 5%

Alcohol is Alcohol

The effect of the alcohol absorbed into your body is the same!

Alcohol content between products will vary considerably 
depending on container size and percentage of alcohol.

 

New York State Governor's Traffic Safety Committee
George E. Pataki, Governor/ Raymond P. Martinez, Chair

C-2 (12/01)
Edited for the internet 3/02

 

http://www.nysgtsc.state.ny.us/alc-bac.htm -- Revised: March 12, 2002
Copyright © 2002 NYS Governor's Traffic Safety Committee
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