Alcohol limits

In nontolerant persons, impairment of driving ability is thought to occur at ethanol blood levels between 60 and 80 mg/dL. Blood levels of 120 to 160 mg/dL are usually associated with gross drunkenness. Levels greater than 300 mg/dL may lead to loss of consciousness, anesthesia, and coma sometimes with fatal respiratory and cardiovascular depression. Blood levels higher than 500 mg/dL are usually lethal. Individuals with alcohol dependence who are tolerant to the effects of ethanol can function almost normally at much higher blood concentrations than occasional drinkers.