What is The Legal Alcohol Limit in South Carolina?
Understanding the legal alcohol limit in South Carolina for driving can keep both you and those around you safe, especially if you drink often enough to consider driving in the first place. In this blog, we will look at the legal alcohol limit in South Carolina and also answer other questions that can help keep you safe on the road and off.
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What Is the Legal Alcohol Limit for Driving in South Carolina?
In South Carolina, the legal Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) limit is 0.08%. If you are above this level, then you are too impaired to be behind the wheel of a vehicle, as your reflexes will be slower.
However, if you are under the age of 21, the limit is stricter, and so it should be as someone under 21 cannot legally drink alcohol in this state. For those drivers, the limit is 0.02%. This is a zero-tolerance rule to try to stop minors from consuming alcohol.
The last differential is whether you are a commercial driver. A commercial driver’s limit is 0.04% to reflect the higher safety standards required for driving complex, heavy vehicles, often for long periods of time.
How Many Drinks Does It Take to Reach the Legal Limit?
There is no one set rule to determine if you are at or under 0.08% BAC after drinking, as it can depend on your gender, your weight, your metabolism, what you have eaten, and the type of alcohol you have consumed. But there are rough rules of thumb that you can follow to avoid getting behind the wheel if you happen to have had a drink before an emergency situation that requires you to drive. In order to stay under 0.08%, you must consume less than four drinks in an hour. However, many overestimate what constitutes a drink, so below is a guide:
- 12 ounces of beer
- 5 ounces of wine
- 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits (like whiskey, vodka, or rum)
It’s always safer to avoid driving if you have consumed any alcoholic beverages; even if you don’t feel like you are impaired, you will not be thinking clearly and, therefore, may misjudge situations. In fact, at just 0.02%, your thinking will become skewed, and you will feel relaxed and perhaps less concerned about the serious threat of driving drunk.
What Happens If You’re Over the Legal Limit?
If you get behind the wheel with a BAC of 0.08% and above in South Carolina, there will be serious consequences. You could be arrested for a DUI, which will follow you for the rest of your life. Worse, if your BAC is above 0.15%, you will face incredibly harsh penalties, including mandatory ignition interlock devices on your vehicle. Some other penalties include:
- Fines up to $1,000 for a first offense
- Suspension of your driver’s license
- Mandatory alcohol and drug safety education
- Potential jail time, especially for repeat offenses
Outside of legal trouble, you may also face increased insurance rates and the inability to find employment, which requires a background check.
Can You Refuse a Breathalyzer in South Carolina?
You may wonder if you can just refuse a breathalyzer once pulled over in South Carolina, but taking this route comes with its own awful consequences. Under South Carolina’s “implied consent” law, by driving on public roads, you automatically agree to submit to chemical tests like breath, blood, or urine tests if law enforcement suspects you are under the influence. Therefore, if you refuse to take the test, you will automatically be banned from driving for six months, even if you have nothing in your system or would have been below the limit.
Unfortunately, refusing the test also doesn’t mean you will not receive a DUI; it just means there will be more consequences.
Start Your Sober Journey in South Carolina
If you drink often and, therefore, must ask questions about the legal limit for driving, then it may be time to reach out for help. At Sanctuary Recovery Foundation, we have the tools to help you begin your sober journey. Contact us today to learn more about our sober living programs and how we can support you on your journey to sobriety.
