Know How To Calculate Your Blood Alcohol Level

Each year, more than 17,602 people are killed by drunk drivers in the United States costing the public over $114 billion. And according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, a disproportionate number of alcohol-related accidents occur around the holidays, especially on New Year’s Eve, a night filled with late partying and celebratory drinking. But even if you don’t drink to get drunk, it’s important to remember this time of year that tipsy driving is still drunk driving. As of 2005, all 50 states have passed laws setting .08 as the legal blood alcohol limit. It seems like an obscure number, but it’s simple to calculate. Jot down these formulas from the University of California and use them whenever you have even one drink and plan to get behind the wheel. Better yet, perform these calculations in reverse to find the amount you can drink while still keeping a responsible BAC level:

Or, if doing calculations isn’t possible, use this simplified version:

Part of staying safe this New Year is keeping others safe too. For more ways to stop drunk driving in your state, check out MADD’s advocacy website that includes a state-by-state list of DUI-related programs and initiatives.