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Utah is the only state in the country where 0.08% is not the number that matters. Since December 30, 2018, Utah's legal limit for driving has been 0.05%, not 0.08%. It is the strictest DUI limit in the United States, and it catches out a lot of visitors and even some locals who grew up with the old number.
This calculator lets you set your legal limit reference to 0.05% specifically, so the "time to legal limit" reading actually means something for Utah roads, not the national default.
● 3 calculation models ● State and country legal limits ● Live BAC curve
Used to estimate body water distribution — the biggest factor in BAC accuracy.
Average is 0.015%/hr. Genetics, liver health, and tolerance shift this between 0.010–0.020%/hr.
Log each drink as you go for the most accurate live curve.
Modeled absorption & elimination curve for your full session.
0 / 8 glasses
Water helps prevent dehydration and eases next-day symptoms, but it does not lower your BAC or speed up alcohol metabolism. Only time does that.
General effects by approximate BAC level. Individual response varies significantly.
| BAC | Typical Effects |
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Utah passed HB 155 in 2017 and the 0.05% limit took effect at the end of 2018, making it the first and, so far, only US state to move off the standard 0.08%. The idea came from research showing that measurable driving impairment, things like reaction time and lane control, starts well before a person hits 0.08%. Utah decided to draw the legal line closer to where the impairment actually starts.
Studies looking at the years after the law changed found a bigger drop in alcohol-related crash deaths in Utah compared to its neighboring states, although researchers note that DUI enforcement and fatality rates in Utah were already trending down before the law, so it is hard to credit the 0.05% number alone.
For a lot of people, 0.05% is closer than they think. As a rough example, a 150 lb woman can reach around 0.05% after about two standard drinks in an hour, and a 180 lb man can get close to it after two to three, depending on how fast he drinks and whether he has eaten. These are estimates, not guarantees, because body water percentage, food, and metabolism all shift the number in either direction.
This is exactly the gap this calculator is built to close. Instead of guessing “am I probably under 0.05% by now,” you log your actual drinks, actual weight, and actual timing, and get a real estimate based on it, along with how long until you are clearly back under the line.
Like most states, Utah has a separate, much stricter rule for drivers under 21. Any measurable alcohol at all can result in a license suspension for a driver under the legal drinking age, regardless of the 0.05% adult limit. If you are under 21, the safe number in Utah is zero, not 0.05%.
If you hold a CDL, the 0.05% state limit is not the number you need to worry about. Federal law sets a separate 0.04% limit for anyone operating a commercial motor vehicle, and that federal rule applies in Utah the same way it applies everywhere else in the country. Our calculator has a dedicated commercial driver option if that applies to you.
QUESTIONS
Yes, as of now. Every other US state uses 0.08% as the standard adult legal limit. Utah has been the only exception since its law took effect in December 2018.
It depends heavily on your weight, sex, how fast you drink, and whether you have eaten. As a rough guide, many people reach 0.05% after one to two standard drinks within an hour, which is less room than the 0.08% limit most states use. Use the calculator with your own details instead of relying on a flat number.
Yes. The legal limit applies to anyone driving in Utah, regardless of where they live or where their license was issued.
Utah, like other states, applies harsher penalties for repeat DUI offenses and for very high BAC readings, on top of the standard 0.05% threshold. The exact penalty structure is a legal question best confirmed with the Utah Department of Public Safety or a local attorney, since this calculator focuses on BAC estimation, not legal penalties.