However, a breathalyzer test is usually given by a police officer who can quickly determine if someone is too impaired to drive. In fact, BrAC is usually only used when referring to breathalyzer test results.īoth BAC and BrAC are reliable measurements. The difference with BrAC is that it is often expressed as the number of milligrams of alcohol in one liter of air.Īlthough BAC and BrAC can be used interchangeably, BAC is more commonly used. The number expressed for BAC is in grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood. This means that for every 2100 milliliters of air in the breath, it will have the same alcohol content as one milliliter of blood in the body. The ratio between BrAC and BAC is 2100:1. First, your BrAC is measured, and it is then converted into a BAC measurement. Once you exhale, the breathalyzer uses sensors to analyze the air that is filled with alcohol. This is the same reason why alcohol can be smelled on the breath. Your blood has alcohol in it, and therefore, the alcohol evaporates when you breathe and is let out through the mouth. However, most devices measuring BrAC, convert it automatically into a BAC.Īlthough it may not make sense right away, the reason a breathalyzer can figure out the BAC is that your blood passes through your lungs in order to provide it with oxygen. It is measured by breathing into a breathalyzer or any similar breath tester. Medications that might affect how the body metabolizes alcoholīrAC is a person's breath alcohol concentration.

Period of time the alcohol was consumed.There are several factors that might determine a BAC. In most states, driving with a BAC level of. Like we said, if you are caught driving at a certain BAC level, you can be arrested and charged for DUI. It is the percentage of alcohol that you have in your bloodstream. It is usually abbreviated and referred to as BAC. If your BAC is too high, you might face a drinking and driving alcohol charge, but what does BAC stand for?īAC stands for blood alcohol concentration, which is also known as blood alcohol content. Additionally, you may have heard the officers mention the term “BAC”.

If this has happened to you, then you might have faced some serious problems. If you have ever had a few drinks and gone to drive your car, the worst thing that could happen is to be pulled over by a police officer. >Read the NPR story on SoloSuit: A Student Solution To Give Utah Debtors A Fighting Chance Summary: Here is SoloSuit's guide on everything you need to know about BAC.

Bac stands for blood alcohol contant or