High School

How many ounces of wine result in a BAC of 0.07 in someone who weighs 160 pounds?

A. 5 oz
B. 19 oz
C. 15 oz
D. 20 oz

Answer :

Final answer:

It is difficult to predict the exact amount of wine in ounces that would result in a BAC of .07 for a person weighing 160 pounds, as individual metabolism and drinking patterns greatly influence BAC levels. The correct option is (a).

Explanation:

To estimate how many ounces of wine would result in a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .07 in someone who weighs 160 pounds, we must first understand the metabolism of alcohol in the body. The body breaks down alcohol at a constant rate, approximately 3.3 mmol/L (15 mg/dL) per hour, regardless of the individual's body weight.

Wine typically contains about 12% ethanol by volume. However, determining the exact amount of wine to reach a specific BAC is challenging due to various factors such as the rate of alcohol absorption, individual metabolism rates, and the duration of drinking.

As a rough estimate, using the standard drink concept where one standard drink contains approximately 14 grams of pure ethanol, and considering that wine at 12% ethanol by volume would have about 0.6 ounces of pure ethanol per 5 ounce serving, it would take multiple servings to reach a BAC of .07. While we can calculate the amount of ethanol consumed, the conversion to BAC is not straightforward due to individual variations.