How many 5% beers does it take?

Answered by Phillip Nicastro

To determine how many 5% beers it would take for you to become legally intoxicated, we need to consider a few factors such as your body weight, the volume of beer consumed, and the alcohol content (ABV) of the beer.

Let’s start by calculating the amount of alcohol in a single 16-ounce beer with a 5% ABV. To do this, we multiply the volume of the beer (16 ounces) by the ABV (5%) and convert it to alcohol content in ounces.

Alcohol content in one beer = 16 ounces * 5% = 0.8 ounces

Now, to estimate how many beers it would take for you to become legally intoxicated, we need to consider the legal limit for blood alcohol concentration (BAC). In the United States, the legal BAC limit for driving is typically 0.08%.

To determine the total amount of alcohol that would lead to a BAC of 0.08%, we must consider various factors such as gender, metabolism, tolerance, and the rate at which alcohol is eliminated from the body. However, for the purpose of this explanation, we’ll use a rough estimate.

Assuming you have an average metabolism and tolerance, we can estimate that it takes about 0.6-0.7 ounces of alcohol to increase the BAC by 0.01%. Therefore, to reach a BAC of 0.08% (the legal limit), it would take approximately 0.8 ounces * 8 = 6.4 ounces of alcohol.

Now, let’s calculate how many 16-ounce, 5% beers it would take to reach this amount of alcohol. Since each beer contains 0.8 ounces of alcohol, we divide the total alcohol needed (6.4 ounces) by the alcohol content in one beer (0.8 ounces) to get the number of beers.

Number of beers = 6.4 ounces / 0.8 ounces = 8 beers

So, in this scenario, it would take approximately 8 beers with a 5% ABV for you to become legally intoxicated. However, please remember that this is just an estimate and individual responses to alcohol can vary significantly. Factors such as tolerance, body composition, and drinking pace can affect how alcohol affects you personally.

It’s important to prioritize responsible drinking and always be aware of your own limits. If you plan to consume alcohol, it’s advisable to do so in moderation and consider arranging alternative transportation if necessary.