|
|
|
|
You feel mildly relaxed and maybe a little lightheaded. Your inhibitions are slightly
loosened, and whatever mood you were in before you started drinking may be mildly
intensified.
|
|
|
You feel warm and relaxed. If you're the shy type when you're sober, you lose your
feelings of shyness. Your behavior may become exaggerated, making you talk louder
or faster or act bolder than usual. Emotions are intensified, so your good moods are
better and your bad moods are worse. You may also feel a mild sense of euphoria.
|
|
|
You believe you're functioning better than you actually are. At this level, you may start
to slur your speech. Your sense of balance is probably off, and your motor skills are
starting to become impaired. Your ability to see and hear clearly is diminished. Your
judgment is being affected, so it's difficult for you to decide whether or not to continue
drinking. Your ability to evaluate sexual situations is impaired. Students may jokingly
refer to this state of mind as beer goggles, but this BAL can have serious
repercussions.
|
|
|
At this level, you feel euphoric, but you lack coordination and balance. Your motor
skills are markedly impaired, as are your judgment and memory. You probably don't
remember how many drinks you've had. Your emotions are exaggerated, and some
people become loud, aggressive, or belligerent. If you're a man, you may have
trouble getting an erection when your BAL is this high.
|
|
|
Your euphoric feelings may give way to unpleasant feelings. You have difficulty
talking, walking, or even standing. Your judgment and perception are severely
impaired. You may become more aggressive, and there is an increased risk of
accidentally injuring yourself or others. This is the point when you may experience a
blackout.
|
|
|
You feel confused, dazed, or otherwise disoriented. You need help to stand up or
walk. If you hurt yourself at this point, you probably won't realize it because you won't
feel pain. If you are aware that you've injured yourself, chances are you won't do
anything about it. At this point you may experience nausea and/or start vomiting (keep
in mind that for some people, a lower blood alcohol level than .20% may cause
vomiting). Your gag reflex is impaired, so you could choke if you do throw up. Since
blackouts are likely at this level, you may not remember any of this.
|
|
|
All mental, physical, and sensory functions are severely impaired. You're emotionally
numb. There's an increased risk of asphyxiation from choking on vomit and of
seriously injuring yourself by falling or other accidents.
|
|
|
You're in a stupor. You have little comprehension of where you are. You may
suddenly pass out at this point and be difficult to awaken. (But don't kid yourself:
Passing out can also occur at lower BALs. But, at lower blood alcohol levels, you
may decide you've had enough to drink and go "pass out." With an alarming BAL like
.30%, your body will be deciding to pass out for you.)
|
|
|
This blood alcohol level also happens to be the level of surgical anesthesia. You
may stop breathing at this point. The nerve centers controlling your heartbeat and
respiration are slowing down completely. It's a miracle if you're not dead.
|
|
|
The nerve centers controlling your heartbeat and respiration are slowing down. You
are probably are in a coma.
|
|
