The basic formula for estimating a person's blood-alcohol content or BAC comes from The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Each drink in this calculation assumes a volume of .54 ounces of alcohol (one shot of distilled spirits, a glass of wine, or 12 ounces of beer).
However, many variables can affect how quickly alcohol enters your blood, raising your blood-alcohol level. One drink in a small female makes for a higher BAC than in a large male, so it may take more drinks to equal the same BAC, but the metabolic rate to burn off the alcohol is the same for each. The body (regardless of gender or size) metabolizes alcohol at a rate of .016 blood alcohol content per hour – or about 1 standard drink per hour. Contrary to what some may say, there is no way to speed up getting sober.