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How many drinks does it take to get drunk?

Very few people anticipate driving drunk after a fun night with friends or family. Unfortunately, it is very easy to over-indulge and find yourself charged with driving under the influence (DUI) in this situation.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, your blood alcohol concentration (BAC), which measures inebriation, is directly impacted by how many drinks you consume. In fact, consuming just four drinks can put you over the legal limit of .08 percent.

Two drinks

Two drinks means you BAC will hover around .02 percent. Watch for a relaxed, altered mood, impaired judgement, and diminished visual function. Multi-tasking ability, crucial for vehicle operation, is also affected at this point.

Three drinks

Three drinks typically means a BAC of .05 percent. Alertness and small-muscle control decrease, as does coordination. You might find it harder to steer the vehicle or have difficulty responding to emergency situations and road hazards.

Four drinks

As stated above, four drinks leads to a BAC of .08 percent. Along with breaching the legal driving limit, you will experience declining reaction times, problems with coordination, reduced information processing, and impaired perception.

Five to seven drinks

Significant impairment is likely between five and seven drinks. Your BAC will range from .10 to .15 percent. Slurred speech, improper braking, an inability to remain within your lane, and reduced thinking are all common. Nausea and vomiting can also occur.

Keep in mind that standard drink sizes vary based on the type of alcohol you are consuming. With beer, the standard size is about 12 ounces. Because liquor is more potent, the standard size is a shot, which measures 1.5 ounces. If you drink more than the standard size per drink, your BAC will increase at a faster rate.