Final answer:
A 20-year-old can be convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol if their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is above the legal limit, typically 0.08% in most countries.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the United States, the legal drinking age is 21 years old. However, individuals under 21 years of age can still be convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol if their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is above the legal limit for underage drivers. This limit is generally lower than the limit for adults, usually at 0.02% or 0.01%.
When a 20-year-old is convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol, it means that their BAC was above the legal limit for their age group. The legal limit is set to ensure the safety of the individual driving and other road users. When a person consumes alcohol, it impairs their ability to make decisions, react, and control their vehicle. As a result, driving under the influence of alcohol significantly increases the risk of accidents and fatalities.
To determine if a 20-year-old is over the legal limit, we can use the following formula:
BAC = (W G / V) / (W G / V + 1)
where:
BAC is the blood alcohol concentration
W is the weight of the person in kg
G is the grams of alcohol per liter of blood
V is the volume of distribution (assumed to be 0.6 L for simplicity)
For a 20-year-old with a weight of 65 kg, consuming 3 standard drinks (each containing 10 grams of alcohol), their BAC would be:
BAC = (65 10 / 0.6) / (65 10 / 0.6 + 1)
BAC = 0.167
In this case, the 20-year-old’s BAC would be 0.167, which is above the legal limit of 0.02% for underage drivers. Therefore, they would be convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol.