For someone my build a .08 is not even enough to consider a buzz let alone drunk. I am not trying to get toasted and I am extremely responsible. I am not looking for an AA meeting, just information. Thanks.
Blood alcohol level is based on percentage of alcohol in your system, and is not altered by your "build". It takes more alcohol for you to get to .08 because you have more blood diluting it. How fast you metabolize alcohol may be effected by build, metabolic rate, and liver function, so you may lose intoxication faster. The BAC is however still based on the percentage of alcohol in your blood, and .08 percent is .08 percent.
So just as much of the drug is effecting your brain through your circulatory system when you have .08 BAC as when a tiny person has a .08 BAC.
I'm aware of no law making it illegal to operate a motor vehicle with a BAC UNDER the legal limit.
In many states you can be found guilty of DUI even when below .08 at the discretion of the officer. They are often separate offenses. Driving above the legal limit, and driving while impaired.
I know sober people that cannot pass some of the impairment tests, and as a result if they have had any alcohol to drink, even just a sip and are not under the effects of alcohol at all would still be found impaired by an officer and guilty of DUI.
A pass and fail is also somewhat discretionary. If the officer feels you are intoxicated and you are at .01 it is still DUI. Counties and cities make tons of money from DUIs. A DUI costs many thousands of dollars, and most places are having serious financial problems right now. So there is a lot of pressure and incentive beyond just safety concerns to charge with a DUI even below .08 BAC.
I personally make good decisions intoxicated, little different than sober, but I know many who do not. In fact I actually tend to have a bit more patience intoxicated.
Yet many who make horrible decisions intoxicated also would think they are not that different, so people are generally a poor judge of themselves.
However regardless of how good a decision maker you are while intoxicated your response time is reduced by a central nervous depressant. Meaning it takes you a split second longer to react, and thus making you more dangerous driving a vehicle.
Motor skills are also impaired even if at undetectable levels during normal anticipated movement.
That kid who runs out in the street, or car that pulls out in front of you may result in injury or death because it took you .5 seconds longer to react. It does not matter that they are at fault or did something unexpected or wrong. Your longer reaction time is what insured thier mistake resulted in much more serious consequences.
You may also over correct and flip your vehicle or hit something else due to excessive reaction increased through intoxication.
You could make the right decisions (except driving to begin with) but still put other people at extra risk because you will make those 'right decisions' a split second later.
Now most of that is not in play while simply carrying a firearm, the decision making process is primarily important. Reaction time, coordination etc is less important while it is not in use or being handled. Yet because so many people have a level of reduced judgment while intoxicated, easily over half of the population, the population in general is uncomfortable with intoxicated people having a firearm. There is certainly a high percentage of men that would be more inclined to hurt someone over an argument while intoxicated, or escalate a situation through bravado. Ironically such bravado seems even more widespread in the South where firearm culture is greatest. Where a larger portion of the population feels it is culturally acceptable or expected to assault or attack someone over perceived insults to honor. Or at least not de-escalate situations.
So some of the areas with the greatest firearm rights are likely to have the least acceptance for someone intoxicated having a firearm.
With firearms rights also strongest in very religious sections of the nation, that certainly further demonizes it among the firearm rights supporters of society. There is a large section of the nation where simply having been intoxicated when something happens results in the assumption of guilt because intoxication itself is evil and leads to evil.
So a major portion of society most inclined to support firearm rights is much less likely to view alcohol in a positive light. I certainly wouldn't want to defend myself while intoxicated in Utah for example. If it was not an absolutely clear cut case you would likely be behind bars for a long time.
There is a lot to consider when you choose to drink.
