Blood alcohol content

About: Blood alcohol content is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 740 publications have been published within this topic receiving 10840 citations. The topic is also known as: BAC & blood alcohol concentration.

Alcohol health and research world

Abstract: Examples of how individuals, public agencies, and private or voluntary organizations are working together to reduce drunk driving are presented. According to administrators of the largest driving under the influence (DUI) treatment program for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the city of Philadelphia, an overwhelming majority of those arrested for drunk driving are alcoholics or problem drinkers, and are unlikely to respond to short jail terms. Findings from a study of first drunk driving offenders in Pennsylvania's accelerated rehabilitation disposition (ARD) program, an alcohol education and driver safety program operated in conjunction with the Philadelphia court system, are reported. It was found that of those convicted of a first drunk driving offense, 90 percent were male, 41 percent were stopped for having caused an accident, and 45 percent were arrested for reckless driving or a hazardous moving violation. The average age of the group was 32 years, and their average blood alcohol concentration at the time of arrest was 0.19, well over the legal minimum for presumed intoxication (0.10). While these subjects had not previously been convicted of DUI, many reported that they suffered blackouts, had early morning drinking bouts, or had drinking habits that interfered with their daily lives. (Author/TRRL)

Alcohol consumption and the intention to engage in unprotected sex: systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental studies

Abstract: Aims To review and analyse in experimentally controlled studies the impact of alcohol consumption on intentions to engage in unprotected sex. To draw conclusions with respect to the question of whether alcohol has an independent effect on the incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies examined the association between blood alcohol content (BAC) and self-perceived likelihood of using a condom during intercourse. The systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted according to internationally standardized protocols (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: PRISMA). The meta-analysis included an estimate of the dose–response effect, tests for publication bias and sensitivity analyses. Results Of the 12 studies included in the quantitative synthesis, our pooled analysis indicated that an increase in BAC of 0.1 mg/ml resulted in an increase of 5.0% (95% CI: 2.8–7.1%) in the indicated likelihood (indicated by a Likert scale) of engaging in unprotected sex. After adjusting for potential publication bias, this estimate dropped to 2.9% (95% CI: 2.0–3.9%). Thus, the larger the alcohol intake and the subsequent level of BAC, the higher the intentions to engage in unsafe sex. The main results were homogeneous, persisted in sensitivity analyses and after correction for publication bias. Conclusions Alcohol use is an independent risk factor for intentions to engage in unprotected sex, and as risky sex intentions have been shown to be linked to actual risk behavior, the role of alcohol consumption in the transmission of HIV and other STIs may be of public health importance.

Self-control and alcohol restraint: an initial application of the self-control strength model

Abstract: Individuals whose self-control strength is depleted through the prior exertion of self-control may consume more alcohol in situations that demand restraint. Male social drinkers either exerted self-control by suppressing their thoughts or did not exert self-control while doing arithmetic. They then sampled beer. Participants expected a driving test after drinking and therefore were motivated to limit their intake. Individuals who suppressed their thoughts consumed more and achieved a higher blood alcohol content than those who did arithmetic. The groups did not differ in mood, arousal, or frustration. Individuals higher in trait temptation to drink consumed more after suppressing their thoughts relative to those lower in trait temptation. Alcohol intake may be a function of temptation to drink and self-control strength.

Impairment of driving performance caused by sleep deprivation or alcohol: a comparative study.

Abstract: A study was conducted to assess the relative impact of partial sleep deprivation (restriction to 4 h sleep before testing) and full sleep deprivation (no sleep on the night before testing) on 2 h of simulated driving, compared with an alcohol treatment (mean blood alcohol content = 0.07%). Data were collected from the 64 male participants on the primary driving task, psychophysiology (0.1 Hz heart rate variability), and subjective self-assessment. The results revealed that the full sleep deprivation and alcohol group exhibited a safety-critical decline in lane-keeping performance. The partial sleep deprivation group exhibited only noncritical alterations in primary task performance. Both sleep-deprived groups were characterized by subjective discomfort and an awareness of reduced performance capability. These subjective symptoms were not perceived by the alcohol group. The findings are discussed with reference to the development of systems for the online diagnosis of driver fatigue. Potential applications of this research include the formulation of performance criteria to be encompassed within a driver impairment monitoring system.