ServSafe Alcohol Practice Exam

What would be the approximate BAC of a 240-pound man who drank five shots (five ounces) of 100 proof bourbon in one hour?

1. .042

2. .062

3. .082

4. .102

The correct answer is: .062

To determine the approximate Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) for a 240-pound man who consumed five shots of 100 proof bourbon in one hour, it's essential to understand how BAC is calculated. The Widmark formula is often used for this purpose and takes into account the weight of the individual, the amount of alcohol consumed, and the time period over which it was consumed. Each shot of 100 proof bourbon contains approximately 1.5 ounces of pure alcohol, as 100 proof is 50% alcohol by volume. Therefore, five shots would equal around 7.5 ounces of pure alcohol. When applying the Widmark formula, which is BAC = (Alcohol consumed in ounces x 5.14) / (Body weight in pounds x r) - (.015 x hours since drinking started), the value of "r" (the alcohol distribution ratio) varies by gender. The average value for males is about 0.68. For a 240-pound man drinking five shots in one hour, the calculation would roughly yield: 1. Calculate the total alcohol consumed: - 7.5 ounces of pure alcohol. 2. Use the Widmark formula: - BAC = (7.5 x 5.14) /