To violate the drunk driving laws in Colorado, you have to have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher or be unable to drive safely even with a lower BAC. Most of the time, people can metabolize one drink an hour, which allows people to plan for responsible consumption at a party so they can drive safely home afterward.

Unfortunately, other decisions that you make during or even before the party could affect how likely you are to experience impairment at the wheel or fail a breath test during a traffic stop on your way home.

What choices put you more at risk of impaired driving charges in Colorado?

Not eating before or while you drink

Consuming alcohol on an empty stomach intensifies the impact of the alcohol. If you didn't have a chance to eat a meal before going to a social gathering where people will consume alcohol, then you should make a point of talking at the party or reducing what you drink.

Drinking what you normally would on an empty stomach could increase your BAC more than you expect and affect your driving ability more than you anticipate.

Drinking too fast, especially right before you leave

Slowly sipping a drink gives your body time to process the alcohol as you consume it. If you throw back shots of alcohol or slam a beer in under a minute, that alcohol may affect you more strongly than it would if you consumed it at a slower pace. Finishing off your drink quickly before leaving could be a mistake if you immediately get behind the wheel of your car afterward.

Learning about what affects your risk for drunk driving charges could help you avoid or possibly fight back against them.