Limitations of BAC Calculators and Charts

Limitations of BAC Calculators and Charts

• Serving Size – The majority of BAC calculators and charts have predefined values for both alcohol serving size and alcohol content. For instance, a beer is 12 oz. and 4.5% alcohol content, a glass of wine is 4 oz. and 15% alcohol content, and a shot is 1.5 oz. and 40% alcohol content. If you consume a drink with a larger serving size and/or one that’s stronger than average, the calculator will underestimate your BAC.

• Food – BAC calculators do not factor the amount of food in your stomach. Your BAC will rise faster when you consume alcohol on an empty stomach because there’s no food to slow the absorption of alcohol.
• Time – BAC calculators assume your alcohol consumption rate is consistent over a specified period of time. If you consume drinks more quickly than "one standard drink per hour," your estimated BAC will be miscalculated.
• Averages – BAC calculators use a formula based on average values such as the average amount of water in the body and in the blood, and the average metabolism rate. Individual factors that affect these values are not calculated, and therefore contribute to erroneous estimations. 

Online BAC Calculators

Interactive online BAC calculators can quickly give you a rough idea of your BAC level, and even your degree of impairment. Most require you to enter four data points: weight, gender, the number of drinks consumed, and the amount of time you have been drinking. Once the data is submitted, a formula is used to calculate your BAC. 

It’s important to understand that BAC calculators and charts can only provide an approximation of your BAC. You should never rely on them to determine whether or not it’s safe to drive.

The accuracy and reliability of online BAC calculators are usually disclaimed in very strong terms. Rightfully, the disclaimers note that personal factors such as metabolism, health, medications, and recent consumption of food can not be taken into account. Without considering these factors, though, these tools are almost useless.  

BAC Chart

BAC charts (or “alcohol impairment charts”) are also widely available. They are easy to follow and provide much of the same information offered by online BAC calculators. 

Here, too, the influence of personal variables make the BAC chart an inaccurate reference. 

The disclaimers note that personal factors such as metabolism, health, medications, and consumption of food can not be taken into account. Without considering these factors, though, these tools are almost useless.

Commercially available breathalyzers are the most reliable way to measure your BAC. Unlike the charts and calculators, breathalyzers don't make sweeping generalizations about who you are or how fast you've been drinking. Instead they use actual evidence--your breath--to make a unique estimation of your Blood Alcohol Content. 

The most accurate breathalyzers you can use to estimate your BAC are Professional Grade BACtrack Breathalyzers, all of which use Xtend^® Fuel Cell Sensor Technology. The BACtrack Mobile Pro, BACtrack S80 Pro, BACtrack Trace Pro, and BACtrack Element Pro are all professional grade tools using the same technology law enforcement officers use for roadside testing. No other method is quite so fast, convenient or reliable.

Shop for BACtrack Breathalyzers now.