Alcohol Burn Calculator
Calculate your estimated blood alcohol content and when you'll be sober.
What did you drink?
What is an alcohol calculator?
An alcohol calculator estimates blood alcohol concentration (BAC) based on the type and amount of drinks consumed, your body weight, gender, and the time period over which you drank. BAC is the standard measure of alcohol intoxication, expressed as a percentage of alcohol in your bloodstream.
This tool helps you understand how different factors affect BAC and make more informed decisions about drinking. It is important to note that this is an estimate — individual metabolism, food intake, medications, hydration, and genetic factors all influence actual BAC. This calculator should never be used to determine fitness to drive.
How to use this tool
Enter your weight, gender, number of drinks by type (beer, wine, spirits), and the time period. The tool calculates estimated BAC and shows how it changes over time. It also indicates the legal driving limits for various countries and the typical effects at different BAC levels.
BAC levels and effects
- 0.02-0.03% — mild relaxation, slight mood elevation. Legal limit for zero-tolerance policies.
- 0.05-0.06% — lowered inhibitions, impaired judgment. Legal driving limit in most European countries.
- 0.08% — clear impairment of reaction time and coordination. Legal driving limit in the US and UK.
- 0.15-0.20% — major impairment. Difficulty walking and speaking.
- 0.30%+ — potentially life-threatening. Risk of unconsciousness and respiratory failure.
How the body processes alcohol
The liver metabolizes alcohol at a roughly constant rate of about 0.015% BAC per hour (approximately one standard drink per hour). This rate cannot be accelerated by coffee, cold showers, or exercise — these are myths. Women generally reach higher BAC than men of the same weight from the same amount of alcohol due to differences in body water percentage and alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme levels.
Frequently asked questions
What is a standard drink?
A standard drink contains approximately 14 grams of pure alcohol. This is roughly: 350ml (12oz) of regular beer (5% ABV), 150ml (5oz) of wine (12% ABV), or 44ml (1.5oz) of distilled spirits (40% ABV). Many cocktails and craft beers contain significantly more alcohol than one standard drink. Check the ABV (Alcohol By Volume) to calculate actual alcohol content.
How accurate is this calculator?
BAC calculators provide rough estimates with a margin of error of 0.01-0.02%. Individual factors like metabolism speed, liver function, food in the stomach, medications, and genetic variations (particularly in alcohol dehydrogenase genes) can cause actual BAC to differ significantly. Never rely on any calculator to determine if you are safe to drive — when in doubt, do not drive.