Most people can drink 1-2 drinks in an hour without getting drunk. But everyone is different. Your weight, gender, food intake, and other factors all matter.
Understanding how much you can drink safely helps you make smart choices. Our BAC calculator can help you estimate your blood alcohol level.
What Does "Getting Drunk" Mean?
"Getting drunk" means different things to different people. Here's what happens at different levels:
- 0.02-0.03% BAC: Slight relaxation, might feel a little warm
- 0.04-0.05% BAC: More relaxed, slightly less inhibited
- 0.06-0.07% BAC: Noticeable effects, impaired judgment
- 0.08%+ BAC: Legally drunk, clearly impaired
Most people start feeling "drunk" around 0.05-0.06% BAC. That's when your judgment and coordination begin to suffer.
How to Stay Under the Legal Alcohol Limit
For Men (Average Weight 180 lbs)
- 1 drink per hour: Stay around 0.02-0.03% BAC
- 2 drinks in first hour: Around 0.05% BAC
- 3 drinks in first hour: Around 0.08% BAC (legally drunk)
For Women (Average Weight 140 lbs)
- 1 drink per hour: Stay around 0.03-0.04% BAC
- 2 drinks in first hour: Around 0.07% BAC
- 3 drinks in first hour: Around 0.10% BAC (very drunk)
Remember: These are rough estimates. Everyone is different!
Factors That Affect How Drunk You Get
1. Your Weight
- Heavier people can usually drink more without getting as drunk
- More body weight means more water to dilute alcohol
- A 200-pound person can handle more than a 120-pound person
2. Your Gender
- Women generally get drunk faster than men of the same weight
- Women have less water in their bodies to dilute alcohol
- Women process alcohol differently due to hormones and enzymes
3. Food in Your Stomach
- Drinking on empty stomach = get drunk much faster
- Food slows down alcohol absorption
- Eat a meal 1-2 hours before drinking for best results
- Fatty and protein-rich foods work best
4. How Fast You Drink
- Drinking fast = getting drunk fast
- Your liver can only process about 1 drink per hour
- Drinking faster than this causes alcohol to build up
5. What You're Drinking
- Beer (5% alcohol): 12 oz = 1 standard drink
- Wine (12% alcohol): 5 oz = 1 standard drink
- Liquor (40% alcohol): 1.5 oz = 1 standard drink
Safe Drinking Strategies
- Eat a full meal before drinking
- Drink one alcoholic drink, then one non-alcoholic drink
- Snack while drinking
Tools to Help You Stay Safe
BAC Calculators
- Use our BAC calculator to estimate your blood alcohol level
- Enter your weight, gender, drinks, and time
- Get an estimate of your impairment level
- Remember: these are estimates, not exact measurements
Personal Breathalyzers
- Can give you real-time BAC readings
- Learn about the best personal breathalyzers
The Bottom Line
How much you can drink without getting drunk depends on many factors:
- Your weight and gender
- What and when you've eaten
- How fast you drink
- Your drinking experience
- Medications you take
- Your health condition
General safe drinking limits:
- 1 drink per hour maximum
- Eat food
- Plenty of water
Use our BAC calculator to help estimate your levels, but remember that staying safe means drinking slowly, eating food, and knowing your personal limits. Learn more about how long alcohol affects your body to make better decisions.
When in doubt, drink less. It's always better to be safe than sorry.