If you have an elevated blood alcohol concentration, you are at risk of DUI charges. The greatest risk is if you are over the legal limit, which is a BAC of 0.08% for the majority of drivers. But you could technically face charges even under this limit, especially if the police see other evidence that you are impaired.
Naturally, what you may be wondering is how long it will take your BAC to return to zero. It really depends on how high it is when you stop drinking. Your BAC goes down by about 0.015% every hour.
So, for example, you may have a relatively low BAC of just 0.03%. This is under the legal limit for most drivers, with the exception of underage drivers. But it would still take two hours to get back to zero.
If you had a BAC of 0.09%, however, you would be over the legal limit for all drivers. It would also take a full six hours before your BAC would return to zero, which is significantly longer than many people realize.
Can you speed up this process?
No, there is not any reliable way to speed up your alcohol metabolism rate. It can differ slightly from person to person, but it remains fairly consistent.
It is important not to fall for certain myths. For example, some people will say that drinking a cup of coffee can help sober you up. But it does not actually reduce your BAC. The caffeine just makes you feel more awake.
Your criminal defense options
If you failed a breath test and were given impaired driving charges as a result, they can have a significant impact on your future. You must understand what legal defense options you have at this time