If a person’s peak BAC after 5 drinks on an empty stomach is 0.10% and eating delays gastric emptying such that peak BAC is reduced by 30% and occurs 2 hours later, what is the new peak BAC and how long after starting drinking would you expect the delayed peak if drinking finished in 30 minutes? Show calculations.

• A. New peak BAC ≈ 0.14% because delayed absorption causes accumulation and higher peaks; delayed peak ≈ 1 hour after starting.
• B. New peak BAC ≈ 0.07%; delayed peak ≈ 2.5 hours after starting drinking.
• C. New peak BAC remains 0.10% because feeding does not affect peak magnitude, only subjective effects; delayed peak ≈ 30 minutes later.
• D. New peak BAC ≈ 0.03% because 70% of ethanol is metabolized before absorption with food; delayed peak ≈ 5 hours after starting.

Answer: (B)