Introduction
Blood alcohol concentration (“BAC”) measures the percentage of alcohol in a person’s blood and can be measured by a blood/urine test or breathalyzer. A higher BAC exemplifies the relative intoxication of a person, which demonstrates their level of impairment. BAC is what the state and federal governments use to determine whether a person is driving under the influence of alcohol (“DUI”).
Before the late-1990s, each state set its own BAC level to be DUI. However, in 1998 the Department of Transportation threatened to cut federal funding for the state unless it adopted President Clinton’s recommendation of a 0.08% BAC for DUI. Now, every state has a limit of 0.08% BAC, but some have adopted additional restrictions—notably those for commercial drivers.
Learn for yourself how BAC limits can change by state by looking at the data in the charts.
| # | State | BAC Level Limit | Ethanol Consumption Per Capita | Binge Drinking Frequency | Binge Drinking Intensity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho | 0.2 | 2.1 gal | 2 | 5.8 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 0.2 | 2.62 gal | 1.5 | 5.4 |
| 3 | Tennessee | 0.2 | 2.3 gal | 1.7 | 5.5 |
| 4 | Nevada | 0.18 | 3.43 gal | 1.6 | 5.5 |
| 5 | New York | 0.18 | 2.22 gal | 1.6 | 5.4 |
| 6 | North Dakota | 0.18 | 3.26 gal | 1.8 | 5.9 |
| 7 | Michigan | 0.17 | 2.53 gal | 1.8 | 5.6 |
| 8 | Ohio | 0.17 | 2.12 gal | 1.9 | 5.7 |
| 9 | South Dakota | 0.17 | 2.34 gal | 1.7 | 5.7 |
| 10 | Wisconsin | 0.17 | 3.11 gal | 1.7 | 5.5 |
| 11 | Illinois | 0.16 | 2.42 gal | 1.9 | 5.7 |
| 12 | Minnesota | 0.16 | 2.85 gal | 1.5 | 5.5 |
| 13 | Montana | 0.16 | 3.32 gal | 1.6 | 5.4 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | 0.16 | 4.83 gal | 1.5 | 5.5 |
| 15 | New Mexico | 0.16 | 2.3 gal | 1.8 | 5.5 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | 0.16 | 2.32 gal | 1.8 | 5.5 |
| 17 | South Carolina | 0.16 | 2.12 gal | 1.9 | 5.7 |
| 18 | Utah | 0.16 | 1.36 gal | 1.7 | 5.6 |
| 19 | Vermont | 0.16 | 3.22 gal | 1.9 | 5.5 |
| 20 | Alabama | 0.15 | 2.08 gal | 1.7 | 5.5 |
| 21 | Arizona | 0.15 | 2.24 gal | 1.5 | 5.5 |
| 22 | California | 0.15 | 2.63 gal | 1.6 | 5.5 |
| 23 | Colorado | 0.15 | 2.97 gal | 1.6 | 5.6 |
| 24 | Delaware | 0.15 | 4.01 gal | 1.7 | 5.3 |
| 25 | Florida | 0.15 | 2.74 gal | 1.8 | 5.5 |
| 26 | Georgia | 0.15 | 1.91 gal | 1.6 | 5.3 |
| 27 | Indiana | 0.15 | 2.34 gal | 1.7 | 5.6 |
| 28 | Iowa | 0.15 | 2.5 gal | 1.9 | 5.8 |
| 29 | Kansas | 0.15 | 2.12 gal | 1.6 | 5.6 |
| 30 | Kentucky | 0.15 | 2.12 gal | 1.9 | 5.7 |
| 31 | Louisiana | 0.15 | 2.59 gal | 2 | 5.5 |
| 32 | Maine | 0.15 | 2.99 gal | 1.8 | 5.4 |
| 33 | Maryland | 0.15 | 2.15 gal | 1.6 | 5.3 |
| 34 | Missouri | 0.15 | 2.68 gal | 1.8 | 5.5 |
| 35 | Nebraska | 0.15 | 2.17 gal | 1.7 | 5.6 |
| 36 | New Jersey | 0.15 | 2.63 gal | 5.2 | |
| 37 | North Carolina | 0.15 | 2.31 gal | 1.8 | 5.4 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | 0.15 | 1.85 gal | 1.5 | 5.6 |
| 39 | Oregon | 0.15 | 2.71 gal | 1.7 | 5.5 |
| 40 | Rhode Island | 0.15 | 2.71 gal | 1.6 | 5.4 |
| 41 | Texas | 0.15 | 2.41 gal | 1.8 | 5.6 |
| 42 | Virginia | 0.15 | 2.27 gal | 1.6 | 5.5 |
| 43 | Washington | 0.15 | 2.26 gal | 1.5 | 5.3 |
| 44 | West Virginia | 0.15 | 1.82 gal | 1.8 | 6.4 |
| 45 | Wyoming | 0.15 | 2.94 gal | 1.5 | 5.5 |
BAC Level Limit by State
Alabama
BAC Level Limit
0.15
Ranked in the US
#20
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.08 gal
Ranked in the US
#46
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.7
Ranked in the US
#23
Binge Drinking Intensity
5.5
Ranked in the US
#21
Arizona
BAC Level Limit
0.15
Ranked in the US
#21
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.24 gal
Ranked in the US
#37
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.5
Ranked in the US
#43
Binge Drinking Intensity
5.5
Ranked in the US
#22
California
BAC Level Limit
0.15
Ranked in the US
#22
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.63 gal
Ranked in the US
#19
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.6
Ranked in the US
#32
Binge Drinking Intensity
5.5
Ranked in the US
#23
Colorado
BAC Level Limit
0.15
Ranked in the US
#23
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.97 gal
Ranked in the US
#10
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.6
Ranked in the US
#33
Binge Drinking Intensity
5.6
Ranked in the US
#13
Delaware
BAC Level Limit
0.15
Ranked in the US
#24
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
4.01 gal
Ranked in the US
#2
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.7
Ranked in the US
#24
Binge Drinking Intensity
5.3
Ranked in the US
#45
Florida
BAC Level Limit
0.15
Ranked in the US
#25
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.74 gal
Ranked in the US
#14
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.8
Ranked in the US
#13
Binge Drinking Intensity
5.5
Ranked in the US
#24
Georgia
BAC Level Limit
0.15
Ranked in the US
#26
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
1.91 gal
Ranked in the US
#48
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.6
Ranked in the US
#35
Binge Drinking Intensity
5.3
Ranked in the US
#46
Idaho
BAC Level Limit
0.2
Ranked in the US
#1
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.1 gal
Ranked in the US
#45
Binge Drinking Frequency
2
Ranked in the US
#2
Binge Drinking Intensity
5.8
Ranked in the US
#3
Illinois
BAC Level Limit
0.16
Ranked in the US
#11
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.42 gal
Ranked in the US
#26
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.9
Ranked in the US
#7
Binge Drinking Intensity
5.7
Ranked in the US
#6
Indiana
BAC Level Limit
0.15
Ranked in the US
#27
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.34 gal
Ranked in the US
#29
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.7
Ranked in the US
#25
Binge Drinking Intensity
5.6
Ranked in the US
#14
Iowa
BAC Level Limit
0.15
Ranked in the US
#28
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.5 gal
Ranked in the US
#25
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.9
Ranked in the US
#8
Binge Drinking Intensity
5.8
Ranked in the US
#4
Kansas
BAC Level Limit
0.15
Ranked in the US
#29
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.12 gal
Ranked in the US
#41
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.6
Ranked in the US
#36
Binge Drinking Intensity
5.6
Ranked in the US
#15
Kentucky
BAC Level Limit
0.15
Ranked in the US
#30
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.12 gal
Ranked in the US
#42
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.9
Ranked in the US
#9
Binge Drinking Intensity
5.7
Ranked in the US
#7
Louisiana
BAC Level Limit
0.15
Ranked in the US
#31
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.59 gal
Ranked in the US
#22
Binge Drinking Frequency
2
Ranked in the US
#3
Binge Drinking Intensity
5.5
Ranked in the US
#25
Maine
BAC Level Limit
0.15
Ranked in the US
#32
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.99 gal
Ranked in the US
#9
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.8
Ranked in the US
#14
Binge Drinking Intensity
5.4
Ranked in the US
#39
Maryland
BAC Level Limit
0.15
Ranked in the US
#33
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.15 gal
Ranked in the US
#40
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.6
Ranked in the US
#37
Binge Drinking Intensity
5.3
Ranked in the US
#47
Massachusetts
BAC Level Limit
0.2
Ranked in the US
#2
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.62 gal
Ranked in the US
#21
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.5
Ranked in the US
#45
Binge Drinking Intensity
5.4
Ranked in the US
#40
Michigan
BAC Level Limit
0.17
Ranked in the US
#7
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.53 gal
Ranked in the US
#23
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.8
Ranked in the US
#15
Binge Drinking Intensity
5.6
Ranked in the US
#16
Minnesota
BAC Level Limit
0.16
Ranked in the US
#12
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.85 gal
Ranked in the US
#12
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.5
Ranked in the US
#46
Binge Drinking Intensity
5.5
Ranked in the US
#26
Missouri
BAC Level Limit
0.15
Ranked in the US
#34
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.68 gal
Ranked in the US
#18
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.8
Ranked in the US
#16
Binge Drinking Intensity
5.5
Ranked in the US
#27
Montana
BAC Level Limit
0.16
Ranked in the US
#13
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
3.32 gal
Ranked in the US
#5
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.6
Ranked in the US
#38
Binge Drinking Intensity
5.4
Ranked in the US
#41
Nebraska
BAC Level Limit
0.15
Ranked in the US
#35
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.17 gal
Ranked in the US
#39
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.7
Ranked in the US
#26
Binge Drinking Intensity
5.6
Ranked in the US
#17
Nevada
BAC Level Limit
0.18
Ranked in the US
#4
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
3.43 gal
Ranked in the US
#4
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.6
Ranked in the US
#39
Binge Drinking Intensity
5.5
Ranked in the US
#28
New Hampshire
BAC Level Limit
0.16
Ranked in the US
#14
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
4.83 gal
Ranked in the US
#1
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.5
Ranked in the US
#47
Binge Drinking Intensity
5.5
Ranked in the US
#29
New Jersey
BAC Level Limit
0.15
Ranked in the US
#36
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.63 gal
Ranked in the US
#20
Binge Drinking Intensity
5.2
Ranked in the US
#51
New Mexico
BAC Level Limit
0.16
Ranked in the US
#15
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.3 gal
Ranked in the US
#33
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.8
Ranked in the US
#17
Binge Drinking Intensity
5.5
Ranked in the US
#30
New York
BAC Level Limit
0.18
Ranked in the US
#5
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.22 gal
Ranked in the US
#38
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.6
Ranked in the US
#40
Binge Drinking Intensity
5.4
Ranked in the US
#42
North Carolina
BAC Level Limit
0.15
Ranked in the US
#37
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.31 gal
Ranked in the US
#32
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.8
Ranked in the US
#18
Binge Drinking Intensity
5.4
Ranked in the US
#43
North Dakota
BAC Level Limit
0.18
Ranked in the US
#6
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
3.26 gal
Ranked in the US
#6
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.8
Ranked in the US
#19
Binge Drinking Intensity
5.9
Ranked in the US
#2
Ohio
BAC Level Limit
0.17
Ranked in the US
#8
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.12 gal
Ranked in the US
#43
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.9
Ranked in the US
#10
Binge Drinking Intensity
5.7
Ranked in the US
#9
Oklahoma
BAC Level Limit
0.15
Ranked in the US
#38
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
1.85 gal
Ranked in the US
#49
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.5
Ranked in the US
#48
Binge Drinking Intensity
5.6
Ranked in the US
#18
Oregon
BAC Level Limit
0.15
Ranked in the US
#39
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.71 gal
Ranked in the US
#16
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.7
Ranked in the US
#27
Binge Drinking Intensity
5.5
Ranked in the US
#31
Pennsylvania
BAC Level Limit
0.16
Ranked in the US
#16
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.32 gal
Ranked in the US
#31
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.8
Ranked in the US
#20
Binge Drinking Intensity
5.5
Ranked in the US
#32
Rhode Island
BAC Level Limit
0.15
Ranked in the US
#40
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.71 gal
Ranked in the US
#17
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.6
Ranked in the US
#41
Binge Drinking Intensity
5.4
Ranked in the US
#44
South Carolina
BAC Level Limit
0.16
Ranked in the US
#17
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.12 gal
Ranked in the US
#44
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.9
Ranked in the US
#11
Binge Drinking Intensity
5.7
Ranked in the US
#10
South Dakota
BAC Level Limit
0.17
Ranked in the US
#9
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.34 gal
Ranked in the US
#30
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.7
Ranked in the US
#28
Binge Drinking Intensity
5.7
Ranked in the US
#11
Tennessee
BAC Level Limit
0.2
Ranked in the US
#3
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.3 gal
Ranked in the US
#34
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.7
Ranked in the US
#29
Binge Drinking Intensity
5.5
Ranked in the US
#33
Texas
BAC Level Limit
0.15
Ranked in the US
#41
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.41 gal
Ranked in the US
#27
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.8
Ranked in the US
#21
Binge Drinking Intensity
5.6
Ranked in the US
#19
Utah
BAC Level Limit
0.16
Ranked in the US
#18
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
1.36 gal
Ranked in the US
#51
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.7
Ranked in the US
#30
Binge Drinking Intensity
5.6
Ranked in the US
#20
Vermont
BAC Level Limit
0.16
Ranked in the US
#19
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
3.22 gal
Ranked in the US
#7
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.9
Ranked in the US
#12
Binge Drinking Intensity
5.5
Ranked in the US
#34
Virginia
BAC Level Limit
0.15
Ranked in the US
#42
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.27 gal
Ranked in the US
#35
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.6
Ranked in the US
#42
Binge Drinking Intensity
5.5
Ranked in the US
#35
Washington
BAC Level Limit
0.15
Ranked in the US
#43
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.26 gal
Ranked in the US
#36
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.5
Ranked in the US
#49
Binge Drinking Intensity
5.3
Ranked in the US
#48
West Virginia
BAC Level Limit
0.15
Ranked in the US
#44
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
1.82 gal
Ranked in the US
#50
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.8
Ranked in the US
#22
Binge Drinking Intensity
6.4
Ranked in the US
#1
Wisconsin
BAC Level Limit
0.17
Ranked in the US
#10
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
3.11 gal
Ranked in the US
#8
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.7
Ranked in the US
#31
Binge Drinking Intensity
5.5
Ranked in the US
#36
Wyoming
BAC Level Limit
0.15
Ranked in the US
#45
Ethanol Consumption Per Capita
2.94 gal
Ranked in the US
#11
Binge Drinking Frequency
1.5
Ranked in the US
#50
Binge Drinking Intensity
5.5
Ranked in the US
#37
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