If a person has a measured BAC of 0.12% and the average metabolic elimination rate is 0.015% BAC per hour, how long (hours and minutes) will it take to fall below the 0.08% legal driving limit? Show your calculation.

• A. About 5 hours because metabolic elimination is slower than commonly reported and often averages closer to 0.005% per hour in healthy adults.
• B. Approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes for BAC to fall below 0.08% based on an elimination rate of 0.015% per hour.
• C. Approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes because elimination speeds up nonlinearly above 0.10% BAC, halving the expected time for reduction.
• D. Less than 30 minutes because drinking water and coffee accelerates hepatic alcohol metabolism to clear BAC rapidly.

Answer: (B)