Final answer:
Motor coordination, judgment, and self-control are impaired at a BAC of 0.08%, which is the legal limit for intoxication in many areas. The severity of impairment increases with higher BAC levels, with significant deterioration at 0.15%, unconsciousness at 0.30%, and potential death around 0.60%.
Step-by-step explanation:
Motor coordination skills, judgment, and self-control are impaired at relatively low blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels. According to health and legal standards, individuals may exhibit signs of impairment at BAC levels as low as 0.08%. This level is widely recognized and often used as the legal limit for driving under the influence in many places. It is at this BAC level that tasks requiring skill and judgment, such as operating a vehicle, become dangerous.
As BAC levels increase, the severity of impairment also increases. At a BAC of 0.15%, individuals are likely to show significant deterioration in motor coordination, poor judgment, and reduced self-control, which can lead to risky behaviors. Higher levels, such as 0.30%, can induce unconsciousness, and a BAC of around 0.60% can be fatal due to alcohol poisoning.
It's important to note that alcohol metabolism is a fixed process, with the liver breaking down alcohol at a rate of about 3.3 mmol/L (15 mg/dL) per hour. Thus, giving the body enough time to metabolize alcohol is the only effective way to avoid intoxication and the associated impairments.