Blood alcohol concentration is not the only element considered when determining if someone should face drunk driving charges. There is a legal limit of 0.08%, but drivers who are under this limit can still be given a drunk driving citation if their impairment can be shown in a different manner. The legal limit just means that anyone exceeding this level is assumed to be impaired.
In any case, if you are going to be driving after consuming any alcohol, staying under the legal limit is important. This way, you remove the assumption that you were impaired and police have to have a different type of proof. This can often help you avoid legal charges. But if you get over that limit, how fast is your blood alcohol concentration going to decline again so that you can drive?
It can take a significant amount of time
The most important thing to remember here is that it can take quite a while for your blood alcohol concentration to actually fall, as it only declines by 0.015% per hour. Many people will spend half an hour drinking water or coffee and assume they have done enough. But they would have barely reduced their blood alcohol concentration at all in 30 minutes, and drinking water and coffee will not speed up the process. In fact, there is nothing that can make your BAC drop faster and time is the only thing that can get you back under the legal limit.
Are you facing charges?
If you do find yourself facing serious charges and you’re worried about your future, be sure you know what legal options you have.