How Many Drinks Are “Over the Limit” in Florida?

When you’re out having drinks, it can be easy to lose yourself and quickly go over the limit, but knowing what the limit even is and how many drinks you can have before you get there depends on several factors. 

DUI Laws in Florida

Before considering how many drinks you can consume, it’s important to become familiar with what’s legally considered “over the limit” in Florida. 

In Florida, a person has surpassed their legal limit when their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) reaches and exceeds .08. Operating a vehicle with a BAC of .08 or greater can leave you open to legal consequences, like fines, jail time, and license suspension, and doing so with a BAC of .15 or higher can have you facing even greater penalties. 

How Many Drinks Can I Have Before I’m Over the Limit?

It can be challenging to figure out exactly how many drinks a person can consume before they are over the limit, as several factors must be considered, including a person’s weight, alcohol tolerance, and whether they ate before drinking.

Generally, men’s and women’s bodies process alcohol differently. Therefore, “moderate” drinking is considered two drinks for men but only one for women. To provide a clearer picture, consider the following information:

• A 1.5-ounce drink of distilled liquor is 40% alcohol
• One 12-ounce beer is 4.5% alcohol
• A 5-ounce glass of wine is 12% alcohol

Generally, it could take as little as 2–3 drinks for a person to become intoxicated, so sometimes, before realizing it, they’ve gone beyond the limit. 

Consult with a Skilled Attorney

If you’re facing DUI charges, your privileges and freedom could be at risk. An experienced DUI defense lawyer at Shrader Mendez & O’Connell is ready to work diligently on your behalf and provide a strong defense, so contact us today at 813-360-1529 to schedule a consultation.