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    The smallest mistake could dramatically and adversely affect the direction of your case.

    Top 10 DWI Mistakes [+]
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Alcohol Absorption

Collin County DWI Attorney

In a society where drinking alcohol is a common aspect of socializing, many people wonder, "How much alcohol is too much?" Impairment actually starts once you have your first drink. However, your gender, body weight, and the number of drinks you consume, and the amount of food in your stomach all affects your body's ability to handle alcohol. Generally, two or three beers in an hour can make many people legally intoxicated. But, women, younger people and smaller people typically become impaired with lesser amounts of alcohol.

In Texas, an individual becomes legally intoxicated and can be arrested and charged with Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) when he or she has a blood or breath alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08%. However, you can also be impaired by alcohol or other drugs regardless of your BAC and you can be fined up to $500 whether you're the driver or passenger and have an open container in a vehicle.

Absorption Rate Factors

Food – You should always eat before you start drinking, especially foods high in protein. When you have food in your stomach, it helps slow down the processing of alcohol. A person who drinks on an empty stomach will hit a peak BAC between 30 minutes to 2 hours after drinking, whereas a person who has eaten will hit a peak between 1 and 6 hours after drinking.

The Strength of the Drink – Stronger drinks will result in a higher blood alcohol concentration.

Body Weight – The less you weigh, the more you can expect to be affected by any given amount of alcohol. Additionally, when you have two people with the same body weight and the same gender, the individual with a lower percentage of body fat will have a lower BAC than the individual with a higher percentage of body fat.

Women – There are a number of reasons why women are more affected by alcohol than men, even as compared to men of the same body weight. For example, women have less of the enzyme dehydrogenase, which is responsible for breaking down alcohol in the stomach, thereby contributing to a higher BAC as compared to a man drinking the same amount of alcohol. Other factors include hormones, having a higher percentage of body fat and less water than men.

Rate of Consumption – The faster someone drinks, the faster their BAC rises.

Functional Tolerance – Functional tolerance has to do with the body's tolerance to alcohol, which is a decrease in a body's sensitivity to alcohol because of regular exposure. In effect, a person exhibiting "functional tolerance" won't seem as intoxicated as a person with little to no functional tolerance. This is merely a behavioral adaption to the effects of alcohol and has no effect on blood alcohol concentration. Basically, appearing to "handle your alcohol" does not have any effect on BAC.

If you have been arrested on an alcohol-related charge, contact The Law Office of Troy P. Burleson!

Why should I call attorney Troy P. Burleson?

  • I am trained in the Intoxilyzer 5000.
  • I am selected for inclusion in Texas' list of Rising Stars℠ by Super Lawyers®.
  • I am a proud member of the National College of DWI Lawyers.
  • I have obtained certification from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in field sobriety testing.
  • I am certified in Mastering Scientific Evidence in DWI/DUI Blood and Breath Testing.
  • As the DWI Trial Guy™, DWI defense is my ONLY business.

Hear what my clients have to say by reading my client testimonials!

  • Recognition

    For Skill & Commitment

    I have been given the honor of inclusion on the list of Texas' Super Lawyers® as a Rising Star

    About Troy P. Burleson [+]
  • Guidance

    From a Knowledgeable Attorney

    The smallest mistake could dramatically and adversely affect the direction of your case.

    Top 10 DWI Mistakes [+]
  • Real Results

    That Changed Lives

    I have consistently won over 70% of the cases I represent. Read about my victories!

    Case Results [+]
  • Contact Us

    Request a Consultation

    You only have 15 days to save your license! Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

    Start Your Defense [+]