Some Immediate Effects Of Alcohol
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For a long time blood alcohol levels and the evidence of impairment have been proven to be correlated and the effects of alcohol on the human body and mind are irrefutable.
Here are some facts about the effects of alcohol and how drinking alcohol can affect cognitive, motor and high-level skills like driving for example.
At .01 blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level, problems begin with divided attention, multi-tasking, checking for blind spots, lane changes etc. while listening to the radio or talking on a cellphone, choice reaction time and visual function which is affected negatively. It becomes harder to concentrate on many things at once and all is slower to do.
At between .01 and .03 BAC, various problems arise, namely: track ing and steering become increasingly more challenging, eye movement control, standing steadiness and emergency responses are in jeopardy. Individual has a relaxed feeling and appears less self-conscious, loss of inhibition.
At .04 level of intoxication coordination starts to suffer and an accelerated downward spiral ensues from there-on up. At .05-.06 information processing and judgment is at risk and increased relaxed feelings are noted, individual seems less alert and less coordinated.
At .07 -.08 BAC , concentrated attention and speed control is almost non-existent as impaired coordination and judgment take over.
Symptoms of intoxication develop during or shortly after alcohol consumption. Below is a list of common symptoms of the effect of drinking alcohol:
- Slurred speech
- Poor coordination
- Cannot walk straight
- Rapid eye movement
- Impaired attention or memory
- Stupor or coma
The best way to tell if someone is intoxicated is through the amount of alcohol in his or her blood. The BAC is expressed as a percentage.
Here's an example: A BAC of 0.05% means that out of 10,000 blood component parts, five parts are alcohol.
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