Ideas in this flowchart

• Alcohol metabolism and blood alcohol concentration determine intoxication risk.
• More than 90 percent of ingested alcohol is metabolized in the liver.
• The remaining alcohol stays in the blood and is eventually excreted.
• Alcohol excreted through the breath enables Breathalyzers to work.
• Other excretion routes include urine, saliva, and sweat.
• Blood alcohol concentration is measured in milligrams percent by comparing alcohol units with blood units.
• BAC is used legally to assess intoxication, impairment, and ability to perform certain activities.
• Driving a car is an example of an activity assessed using BAC.
• As a general rule, the liver can metabolize one standard drink per hour.
• A standard drink is 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1½ ounces of hard liquor.
• Drinking more than one standard drink per hour, or drinking more quickly, can raise BAC to unsafe levels.