Law of the Land

2. 2 Law of the Land Why .08 BAC? In single vehicle crashes, the relative fatality risk for drivers with blood alcohol content between .05 and .10 is over 11 times greater than for drivers with a BAC of zero. BAC limit saves lives As your blood alcohol content level rises, so does your risk of being involved in a fatal crash. Make the right choice. Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

3. 3 How Your BodyReacts to Alcohol BRAIN. Impaired function and judgment ability. LUNGS. Infection; breathing can stop. HEART. Irregular heartbeat. LIVER. Alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis. STOMACH. Irritation, peptic ulcers, bleeding lesions, cancer. INTESTINES & PANCREAS. Intestinal tract and colon damage, inflammation, ulcers, and cancer. BONES & MUSCLES. Weaker and thinner bones (osteoporosis); weaker and uncoordinated muscles. BRAIN. Alcohol depresses nerve cells impairing brain function. LUNGS. Large amounts of alcohol lower resistance to infection or can cause breathing to stop. HEART. Alcohol impairs the heart muscles� ability to pump blood, leading to abnormal heart function and irregular heartbeat. LIVER. Chronic heavy drinking may cause alcoholic hepatitis (inflammation and destruction of the liver cells) and then cirrhosis (irreversible lesions, scarring and destruction of liver cells). STOMACH. Alcohol irritates the stomach and can lead to peptic ulcers, bleeding lesions and cancer. INTESTINES & PANCREAS. Alcohol can impair the breakdown and absorption of nutrients by damaging the cells lining the intestinal tract and colon, causing inflammation, ulcers, and cancer of the intestines and colon. The pancreas can become inflamed and leak digestive enzymes which attack the pancreas itself. BONES & MUSCLES. Alcohol interferes with the body�s ability to absorb calcium resulting in bones being weak and thinner (osteoporosis). Muscles also become weaker and uncoordinated. Source: VA Department of ABCBRAIN. Alcohol depresses nerve cells impairing brain function. LUNGS. Large amounts of alcohol lower resistance to infection or can cause breathing to stop. HEART. Alcohol impairs the heart muscles� ability to pump blood, leading to abnormal heart function and irregular heartbeat. LIVER. Chronic heavy drinking may cause alcoholic hepatitis (inflammation and destruction of the liver cells) and then cirrhosis (irreversible lesions, scarring and destruction of liver cells). STOMACH. Alcohol irritates the stomach and can lead to peptic ulcers, bleeding lesions and cancer. INTESTINES & PANCREAS. Alcohol can impair the breakdown and absorption of nutrients by damaging the cells lining the intestinal tract and colon, causing inflammation, ulcers, and cancer of the intestines and colon. The pancreas can become inflamed and leak digestive enzymes which attack the pancreas itself. BONES & MUSCLES. Alcohol interferes with the body�s ability to absorb calcium resulting in bones being weak and thinner (osteoporosis). Muscles also become weaker and uncoordinated. Source: VA Department of ABC

4. 4 Myths & Facts About Alcohol ABSORPTION RATE FACTORS Strength of drink: Drinks can have different effects based on their composition. Mixing a drink with a carbonated soda, for example, will quicken the effects of the alcohol due to the carbonation bubbles. Mixing alcohol with juice or milk, however, will decrease the effects of alcohol. Rate of consumption: Gulping or chugging drinks will increase the amount of alcohol absorbed into the system. The liver metabolizes alcohol at average rate of one drink per hour. If a person drinks faster than this, the remainder of the alcohol will circulate in the bloodstream until the liver is able to metabolize all of the alcohol. Body size/weight: Smaller people will generally be affected more quickly by alcohol than heavier people. This is because heavier people have more blood and water in their bodies, which assists in the dilution of alcohol. Food: A full stomach slows the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream. Drinking on an empty stomach, however, will cause the BAC to rise more rapidly since there is no food to assist in absorption. Gender: Women tend to reach a higher BAC faster because they have a higher fat to muscle ratio than men. Fat repels alcohol, whereas muscle absorbs it. Therefore, it takes lesser amounts of alcohol for a woman to show signs of its effects since women are usually smaller, and have less muscle to absorb the alcohol. Drug use: The use of other legal or illegal drugs can increase the effects of alcohol, and may cause a risky, unpredictable outcome.ABSORPTION RATE FACTORS Strength of drink: Drinks can have different effects based on their composition. Mixing a drink with a carbonated soda, for example, will quicken the effects of the alcohol due to the carbonation bubbles. Mixing alcohol with juice or milk, however, will decrease the effects of alcohol. Rate of consumption: Gulping or chugging drinks will increase the amount of alcohol absorbed into the system. The liver metabolizes alcohol at average rate of one drink per hour. If a person drinks faster than this, the remainder of the alcohol will circulate in the bloodstream until the liver is able to metabolize all of the alcohol. Body size/weight: Smaller people will generally be affected more quickly by alcohol than heavier people. This is because heavier people have more blood and water in their bodies, which assists in the dilution of alcohol. Food: A full stomach slows the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream. Drinking on an empty stomach, however, will cause the BAC to rise more rapidly since there is no food to assist in absorption. Gender: Women tend to reach a higher BAC faster because they have a higher fat to muscle ratio than men. Fat repels alcohol, whereas muscle absorbs it. Therefore, it takes lesser amounts of alcohol for a woman to show signs of its effects since women are usually smaller, and have less muscle to absorb the alcohol. Drug use: The use of other legal or illegal drugs can increase the effects of alcohol, and may cause a risky, unpredictable outcome.

5. 5 What�s Your Probability of Crashing? The major factor in determining driver capability is the amount of alcohol consumed. The greater the BAC concentration, the greater the risk of being involved in a fatal crash. Young drivers ages 16 to 19 with a BAC of .02 percent to .05 percent � one to two drinks � are at least seven times more likely to be killed in a crash than a sober driver of any age. At .085 percent BAC � three to four drinks � young drivers are 40 times more likely to be killed than a sober driver and 20 times more likely to be killed than a 55-year-old driver with the same BAC level. By .12 percent BAC � four to six drinks � a 16- to 19-year-old is 90 times as likely to die in a traffic crash as a sober driver. The risk of a crash increases even before drivers are considered legally impaired or intoxicated. Source: AAA Traffic Safety DepartmentThe major factor in determining driver capability is the amount of alcohol consumed. The greater the BAC concentration, the greater the risk of being involved in a fatal crash. Young drivers ages 16 to 19 with a BAC of .02 percent to .05 percent � one to two drinks � are at least seven times more likely to be killed in a crash than a sober driver of any age. At .085 percent BAC � three to four drinks � young drivers are 40 times more likely to be killed than a sober driver and 20 times more likely to be killed than a 55-year-old driver with the same BAC level. By .12 percent BAC � four to six drinks � a 16- to 19-year-old is 90 times as likely to die in a traffic crash as a sober driver. The risk of a crash increases even before drivers are considered legally impaired or intoxicated. Source: AAA Traffic Safety Department

6. 6 Do You Know How Much You Are Drinking? Do you know how much you are drinking? Remember, one oz. of distilled spirits, one 4 oz. glass of wine, and one 12 oz. beer all contain the same amount of alcohol. However, at restaurants and bars, sometimes drinks are not measured when they are poured, making it difficult to determine the amount of alcohol present. Also, some drinks call for more than one type of liquor. For example, a Long Island Iced Tea includes shots of alcohol that could equal up to three drinks! Another consideration in determining the strength of a drink is a measurement called proof. Proof expresses the amount of alcohol as twice the percent. For example, a drink with 80-proof liquor would contain 40% PURE alcohol. Research indicates that the level and duration of alcohol�s effects on females is greater than it is on males. Women have smaller quantities of the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase that breaks down alcohol in the stomach. As a result, women absorb 30 percent more alcohol into their systems. Adjusting for weight, a woman who consumes 2 oz. of liquor will experience about the same effects as a man who consumes 4 oz.Do you know how much you are drinking? Remember, one oz. of distilled spirits, one 4 oz. glass of wine, and one 12 oz. beer all contain the same amount of alcohol. However, at restaurants and bars, sometimes drinks are not measured when they are poured, making it difficult to determine the amount of alcohol present. Also, some drinks call for more than one type of liquor. For example, a Long Island Iced Tea includes shots of alcohol that could equal up to three drinks! Another consideration in determining the strength of a drink is a measurement called proof. Proof expresses the amount of alcohol as twice the percent. For example, a drink with 80-proof liquor would contain 40% PURE alcohol. Research indicates that the level and duration of alcohol�s effects on females is greater than it is on males. Women have smaller quantities of the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase that breaks down alcohol in the stomach. As a result, women absorb 30 percent more alcohol into their systems. Adjusting for weight, a woman who consumes 2 oz. of liquor will experience about the same effects as a man who consumes 4 oz.

7. 7 Thinking About Drinking and Driving?

8. 8 Driving Under the Influence In 2004, Congress has amended the UCMJ to lower the BAC limit to .08. If charged at a court-martial, the penalties could result in a dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement in the brig for 18 months. In 2004, Congress has amended the UCMJ to lower the BAC limit to .08. If charged at a court-martial, the penalties could result in a dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement in the brig for 18 months.

9. 9 The Ravages of Car Crash Injuries

10. 10 Holidays + Impaired Driving:Deadly Combination

11. 11 How To Spot A Drunk Driver

12. 12 What You Can Do�

13. 13 Make It A Great Party!