How much alcohol you drink, your weight, sex, and age determine your blood alcohol content levels. The more you drink, the higher your BAC levels and the higher your levels, the more severe the consequences are for a DUI conviction. An experienced defense attorney like Terry Priest knows the ins and outs of the fines and penalties surrounding a DUI charge. When you or someone you know has been charged with a DUI you want a qualified attorney in your corner to relieve the burden and assist you through the legal process.

Listed below are some of the common myths and misconceptions regarding alcohol intake and the effects of blood alcohol content levels. Be sure to read and consider the following before getting behind the wheel of a car after having a drink or a few:

Myth: Drinking coffee helps you sober up.

FACT: The only thing that can truly sober you up is time. Coffee will simply wake you up, however, it cannot change your blood alcohol levels.

Myth: Physical activity will sober me up.

FACT: Exercise will speed up the heart rate, which may lead to a very minimal sobering effect. This effect is so minimal that it is negligible overall.

Myth: Splashing cold water on my face or taking a cold shower will help me sober up.

FACT: Again, it may wake you up, but it cannot lower your BAC levels as it has no effect.

Myth: The same amount of alcohol effects males and females equally.

FACT: Females become more intoxicated than males after drinking the same amount of alcohol, even when differences in body weight are taken into account. Female bodies have proportionately less water than male bodies, therefore, alcohol mixing with body water in a female becomes more concentrated.

Myth: Beer has less alcohol than shots of liquor and glasses of wine.

FACT: Common alcohol serving suggestions are sized so that each serving of various types of alcohol will contain approximately the same amount of alcohol. Alcohol is alcohol when it has entered the bloodstream.

Myth: One drink does not affect driving.

FACT: Your impairment is related to your blood alcohol concentration. Depending on your weight, you can have a BAC of 0.02% after only one drink, which can slow your reaction time and make it difficult to concentrate on two things at the same time. A BAC of 0.03% can significantly impair your steering. At 0.04% your vision begins to focus on the center of the road and you cannot respond well to street signs, traffic signals, and pedestrians. By 0.05% your driving will be noticeably erratic, especially to police officers.

One of the most important steps to avoiding legal trouble is education on the law. Please visit our website to learn more about the applicable laws and how the team at Fausone & Grysko, PLC can help. Call attorney Terry Priest today at  248-380-0000.