Final answer:
A person will be placed out of service for 24 hours if their BAC reaches the level of legal intoxication, commonly 0.08%, due to the time it takes for alcohol to be metabolized and its effects on motor skills and judgment.
Step-by-step explanation:
You will be placed out of service for 24 hours if your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is at a level considered legally intoxicated. In the context of public safety and operating vehicles, a BAC of 0.08% is commonly the threshold for legal intoxication in many jurisdictions, including most US states. Due to the rate at which alcohol is metabolized by the human body (≈ 3.3 mmol/L or 15 mg/dL per hour), a person who has reached legal intoxication would need several hours to sober up to a safe level. To avoid risks associated with alcohol intoxication, such as impaired judgment and reduced motor skills, it is imperative to understand the immediate effects of alcohol, which depend on the individual's BAC.