Final answer:
Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) is influenced by the quantity of alcohol consumed, how quickly it's consumed, and the individual's body composition, including gender-based metabolic differences. A Breathalyzer measures BAC based on ethanol in the breath, and BAC levels above 0.08% are often considered legally intoxicated for drivers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) is determined by several factors, including the number of drinks consumed, the rate of consumption, and the individual's body composition. These factors influence how alcohol is metabolized in the body and consequently, the BAC level. Women typically metabolize alcohol more slowly than men, and individual metabolism rates can vary by 25-30%. Additionally, the rate at which alcohol is metabolized does not increase with a higher volume of alcohol consumed because it is limited by the amount of alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme in the liver.
Legally, alcohol intoxication is often defined as a BAC higher than a certain level, with 0.08% being the legal limit in many places for driving under the influence. A Breathalyzer is a device used to measure the ethanol concentration in a person's breath, which correlates to their BAC. Only through metabolism by the liver can alcohol be effectively cleared from the bloodstream, and this takes time; no other methods like drinking coffee or taking a shower will speed up this process.