Legal Definitions - blood alcohol content

Definition: Blood alcohol content (BAC) is the amount of alcohol present in a person's bloodstream, expressed as a percentage. It is used to determine whether a person is legally intoxicated, especially under a driving-while-intoxicated law. In many states, a BAC of .08% is enough to charge a person with an offense.

Example: If a person has a BAC of .08%, it means that 0.08% of their blood is made up of alcohol. This can impair their ability to drive safely and make good decisions.

Explanation: BAC is a measure of how much alcohol is in a person's system. It is important to know because it can help determine if someone is too impaired to drive or operate machinery safely. A BAC of .08% is the legal limit in many states, meaning that if a person is caught driving with a BAC at or above this level, they can be charged with a DUI or DWI.