Training for Intervention ProcedureS (TIPS) Certification Practice Exam

If a 150 lb male consumes 4 drinks in an hour on an empty stomach, what is his estimated BAC?

1. .15

2. .20

3. .25

4. .30

The correct answer is: .20

To estimate the Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) for a 150 lb male who consumes 4 drinks in an hour on an empty stomach, you can apply the Widmark formula, which is commonly used to estimate BAC based on body weight and the amount of alcohol consumed. Typically, one drink is considered to contain about 0.6 ounces of pure alcohol. Therefore, 4 drinks would equate to approximately 2.4 ounces of pure alcohol. When calculating the BAC, the formula is: \[ BAC = \frac{(Alcohol\ in\ ounces \times 5.14) }{(Body\ weight\ in\ pounds \times r)} - .015 \times hours\ since\ drinking\ started \] In this case, for the average male, the r value (that accounts for body water) is approximately 0.68. Plugging the values into the formula gives: \[ BAC = \frac{(2.4 \times 5.14)}{(150 \times 0.68)} - .015 \times 1 \] This calculation results in a BAC typically landing in the range of .15 to .20, depending on the specifics of the consumption