For most Kentucky drivers, the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit is set at 0.08%. There are some exceptions to this, as underage drivers and commercial drivers often have lower limits. However, for most people, they must stay under a BAC of 0.08% while operating their vehicle. Failing to do so allows the court to presume impairment, and the driver may face drunk driving charges.
For those who have been drinking and still plan to drive, they may understand that they need to wait for their BAC to go down before doing so legally. But how fast is that actually going to happen? Could someone just wait for half an hour in order to drive safely?
0.015% per hour is the standard rate
The short answer is that it takes longer than people may realize for their BAC to return to zero. A half hour often will not be enough, as a person’s BAC declines at a relatively slow rate of about 0.015% per hour.
Because this decline is so slow, people sometimes make mistakes that could lead to a drunk driving arrest. For instance, someone who stays out late and then gets up early to drive to work may still technically have an elevated BAC if they only slept for a few hours.
Some people try to find ways to lower their BAC more quickly, such as drinking water, having a cup of coffee, or taking a shower. But it is important to note that none of these methods will cause their BAC to decline any faster than it otherwise would. These are not valid ways to sober up or avoid a DUI.