How much alcohol must one consume to be driving under the influence in Illinois?
In Illinois, individuals can be charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, generally, or for having a blood alcohol content (BAC) level of .08 percent or more, or any or both. If you submitted to chemical testing of blood, breath, or urine, and the results showed a BAC level of .08 or more, you will likely be charged with DUI under both definitions. You are considered per se “under the influence” if the prosecution can prove that your BAC level at the time of arrest was .08 or more, regardless of how much you actually drank. How one reaches a BAC level of .08 depends on one’s weight, whether you have eaten, the amount you drank, what you drank, and over what period of time the alcohol was consumed. For example, a 170-pound male typically would have to consume more than four drinks in one hour on an empty stomach to reach a BAC of .08. A 135-pound female typically would have to consume three drinks in the same time frame. If you have only been charged with the general offense
