The craft beer revolution has grown in recent years and seems to be here to stay. Craft beer is not made in mass quantity through a mechanical system. Instead, the term “craft beer” encompasses any small batch of beer made by traditional means. Craft beer is also typically brewed by an independently-owned business instead of a larger corporation. While the craft beer industry is enjoyable and exciting to many, the growth of the industry raises some legal and administrative questions, including: could craft beer lead to more DUIs?
If you were arrested for a DUI after having a beer or two at your local brewery, contact an Ohio DUI defense lawyer from Luftman, Heck & Associates at (513) 338-1890 right away.
Craft Beers May Contain More Alcohol
Small-batch beers made by local brewers, including some in and around Cincinnati, can have higher alcohol concentrations than many mass-produced beers. A majority of beers commonly available at grocery stores across the United States. have an alcohol by volume (ABV) of between 4.0 and 6.0 percent. If you pick up a Bud Light, it is advertised as having a 4.2 percent ABV, while a Coors Original is listed as having a 5.0 percent ABV. However, it is common to find a craft beer on the menu with an ABV of 7.0 percent or higher. There are even some beers with double-digit ABVs. This includes beers from Rhinegeist, Bad Tom Smith Brewing, Braxton Brewing, Fifty West Brewing Company, and MadTree Brewing Company.
Why Does ABV Matter?
The human liver processes alcohol at a certain rate, which varies a depending on factors like sex and weight. Typically though, your liver metabolizes one ounce of alcohol per hour. You can generalize this as one shot of hard liquor per hour or one glass of beer or wine per hour.
This is where ABV comes in. If a standard beer is roughly 5.0 percent alcohol, then you can expect your body to metabolize that beer within an hour, roughly. If you go out with your friends and have two beers over the course of three to four hours, you may be below the legal limit and able to drive home. However, what if the beer you just drank has a 10 percent ABV? If your beer has a high amount of alcohol, it will take your liver longer to process it. If you have two beers with a high percentage of alcohol in a three-to-four-hour period, it may not be safe or lawful for you to drive.
Can Craft Beers Lead to More DUIs?
Nothing about craft beers inherently causes drinking and driving. However, if you enjoy craft beers, you need to be careful. When it comes to heading out for a drink or two, you need to check out your beverage’s ABV, which is typically listed on the bar menu and the drink’s label. When consuming a beer with a high percentage of alcohol, you need to give your body a longer period of time to metabolize the alcohol. This may mean spacing out your drinks and waiting longer after finishing your drinks before heading home. It may also mean having fewer drinks than you typically would in one sitting. Without paying attention to alcohol content and taking additional measures to avoid a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) over the legal limit, you put yourself at risk for drinking and driving.
Were You Arrested for a DUI After Drinking Craft Beer?
If you were pulled over in Ohio and arrested for a DUI after drinking craft beer, contact our trusted and criminal defense lawyers at Luftman, Heck & Associates. We have years of experiencing handling DUI cases. We will conduct a thorough defense investigation into your case, gathering evidence to use on your behalf. We will determine the strongest defenses available, and fight for your exoneration in court.
Call us today at (513) 338-1890, or use our online form to schedule a consultation about your case.
