Blood Alcohol Re-visited

My account of Ann and I acting out our curiosity about to what level an evening out might have driven our blood alcohol (blog post of 13 October) drew much banter at my expense along with some serious chastisements from the worldly-wise. Still curious and now defensive, I found a blood alcohol calculator on the web (www.bloodalcoholcalculator.org) which illuminates some important data. First, notwithstanding my friend's assumption that driving to the police station for a check was prima facie evidence of being over the legal limit -- 0.08% -- it turns out I was legal: 0.066. Aha!

But Ann was not: 0.128. We each had enjoyed a martini at 6:30 and shared a bottle of wine from 8:30 to near 10. It was somewhat after ten when we pulled into City Hall.

The difference is important to keep in mind this holiday season of exceeding good cheer. Women don't metabolize alcohol as rapidly as do men. And yes, body weight makes a difference. Had I been a female at my body mass, my blood would have registered 0.08 -- BUZZER! Had I, as male, been at Ann's svelte body mass, my blood would have hit 0.109 -- BUZZER again, though not as far off as her 0.128.

The moral of this tale for slight, young women: don't try to keep up with the boys as they assail the wassail bowl, or else plan on taking a cab home from the party. Dads of lasses, take note.