What is drunk?

[Tom Brown]

For any of you who haven't been around a while and think these discussions about drinking are pretty out of hand, think again. We've had far more intense discussions than this.
I wonder how much research went into the .08 figure that seems to be the predominant legal definition here in North America. I assume a lot.
I know some alcoholics who can really knock back the booze and still seem pretty normal. Still, handle it as they may, I wouldn't want a good liquor holding alchy driving me around LA at 0.12. He might seem normal as hell and function better than the average guy and even drive well in that state, but I wouldn't trust his judgement in a squeeze.
.... so what level of impairment is acceptable? Surely, .00 is rubbish. If alcohol is that bad, perhaps it should be prohibited outright.

[Ultracrazy]

For any of you who haven't been around a while and think these discussions about drinking are pretty out of hand, think again. We've had far more intense discussions than this.
I wonder how much research went into the .08 figure that seems to be the predominant legal definition here in North America. I assume a lot.
I know some alcoholics who can really knock back the booze and still seem pretty normal. Still, handle it as they may, I wouldn't want a good liquor holding alchy driving me around LA at 0.12. He might seem normal as hell and function better than the average guy and even drive well in that state, but I wouldn't trust his judgement in a squeeze.
.... so what level of impairment is acceptable? Surely, .00 is rubbish. If alcohol is that bad, perhaps it should be prohibited outright.
The question should be what is impaired.

[Tom Brown]

Perhaps. That's not how I see it, however.
The question, perhaps better phrased, would be, "what level of impairment is drunk?"

[Mattman]

I have arrested numerous alcoholics with B.A.C.'s in the high two's. The last good one that comes to mind is a .28 on the breath. Also submitted to blood which came back higher (which is normally the case) at a .29. Walked, talked and acted like the everyday Joe. Told me his problem is so bad that he has to medicate (alcohol) every morning just to function on a daily basis.

[Ultracrazy]

Perhaps. That's not how I see it, however.
The question, perhaps better phrased, would be, "what level of impairment is drunk?"
True dat

[Riomouse911]

The NTSB did studies for years, and these studies found that the .08% figure is the point where the vast majority of adults lose the ability to multi-task... steer, observe, comprehend, maintain speed etc...That's a big reason why the Feds made that the standard across the country, and most (if not all) States abide by it.. (I think they lose highway funds, so they had little choice)
I've seen people lose motor function at an .04% (rookie drinker falling all over herself) and I have had a decent conversation with a guy who was a .44% / .43% on the breathalyzer.
In closing, being a slobbering drunk takes different folks different amounts of booze, but losing the fine motor control and ability to do more things at once (like driving) usually begins to seriously decline for most folks at .08.

[HavaSkank]

Drunk, by definition, is waking up with a shaved head in a dumpster behind Taco Bell next to Danny Bonaduce wearing your panties as a party hat.

[Boatcop]

Substantial testing and research has been done on this subect. The follwoing is a breakdown of that testing/research
Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)
Typical Effects Predictable Effects on Driving
.02%
Some loss of judgment
Relaxation
Slight body warmth
Altered mood
Decline in visual functions (rapid tracking of a moving target)
Decline in ability to perform two tasks at the same time (divided attention)
.05%
Exaggerated behavior
May have loss of small-muscle control (e.g., focusing your eyes)
Impaired judgment
Usually good feeling
Lowered alertness
Release of inhibition
Reduced coordination
Reduced ability to track moving objects
Difficulty steering
Reduced response to emergency driving situations
.08%
Muscle coordination becomes poor (e.g., balance, speech, vision, reaction time, and hearing)
Harder to detect danger
Judgment, self-control, reasoning, and memory are impaired
Concentration
Short-term memory loss
Speed control
Reduced information processing capability (e.g., signal detection, visual search)
Impaired perception
.10%
Clear deterioration of reaction time and control
Slurred speech, poor coordination, and slowed thinking
Reduced ability to maintain lane position and brake appropriately
.15%
Far less muscle control than normal
Vomiting may occur (unless this level is reached slowly or a person has developed a tolerance for alcohol)
Major loss of balance
Substantial impairment in vehicle control, attention to driving task, and in necessary visual and auditory information processing
Information in this table shows the BAC level at which the effect usually is first observed, and has been gathered from a variety of sources including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the American Medical Association, the National Commission Against Drunk Driving, and www.webMD.com.
The above are the physiological factors. These are the legal factors:
Commercial Drivers, boat operators, and all airplane pilots:
.04%
Legally presumed impaired
Can suffer the loss of their commercial status or Pilot license
Non-Commercial Drivers / Boat Operators
.00 - <.05%
Legally presumed Not Impaired
.05%-<.08%
No legal presumption of impairment or non impairment. Can be found impaired based on other substantive tests. (driving pattern, balance, reation to divided attention tests)
.08% and above
Legally presumed Impaired

[blown65]

Mythbusters did a segment on this once. That show may not be the most accurate but some of its findings were quite interesting.

[Napanutt]

It's not what you blow the night before.
I don't think people realize that the hang-over the next morning,you still have alcohol content (higher then most people realize) blowing from your lungs...
I work with a very normal (alky I guess) guy, shows up everyday for 8 years blah,blah,blah...
Blew a .18 at 11 in the morning...from the night before.
If you're curious,buy a breathalyzer...