Blood Alcohol Level (BAL)
BAL, also called BAC (Blood Alcohol Content), refers to the amount of alcohol present in a person's blood stream. BAL can be measured by a breath test or blood test administered by police or medical personnel. The quicker someone consumes alcohol the higher their BAL will become as the only thing that lowers a BAL is time. The body metabolizes alcohol to remove it from your system and every person does this at a different rate. It's important for women to know they metabolize alcohol slower than men meaning a woman will suffer more adverse consequences drinking the same amount of alcohol as a man, even if they weigh the same amount!
The legal BAL limit in California for driving is 0.08 for persons over the age of 21. Violations for impaired driving can be given at lower BAL levels and are dependent on a person's tolerance for alcohol.
