Amount of alcohol contained in venous blood (BAC), expressed in milligrams per gram or in per mille (1 per mille = 1 g alcohol in 1 kg blood or 1 mg/g). The measurement is taken in serum (blood without blood cells and coagulation factors) and is converted to blood content. The enzyme ADH (alcohol dehydrogenase) is used to determine the blood alcohol. This makes it possible to determine any impairment of concentration and sanity caused by alcohol. The taking of a blood sample can be enforced by a court (not enforceable in Austria - however, legally the same consequence follows as if one had been heavily intoxicated). To determine the BAC on corpses, blood may only be taken from the inguinal vein. Alternatively, eye chamber fluid may be used.
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Markus J. Eser
Weinakademiker und Herausgeber „Der Weinkalender“