Final answer:
Research shows that the risk of being involved in a crash increase when the alcohol level is exceeds 0.08%.
Step-by-step explanation:
Research consistently demonstrates that alcohol intoxication significantly heightens the risk of road accidents. Consuming more than the legal limit of alcohol, which many countries set at 0.08% BAC (blood alcohol concentration), impairs essential faculties such as motor coordination, visual acuity, and judgement. The process of alcohol breakdown in the human body is constant, roughly at a rate of 3.3 mmol/L (15 mg/dL) per hour, but consuming more alcohol can quickly elevate BAC to levels that lead to severe impairment and increased crash risk.
The effects of alcohol on driving ability include a decrease in reaction time and behavioral control, which can have fatal consequences on the road. Especially in Australia, it's estimated that 50% of road accidents are attributable to alcohol overconsumption. Moreover, beyond immediate risks such as crashes, long-term consequences of heavy drinking involve physiological disorders like liver cirrhosis, increased cancer risks, and neurocognitive disorders, highlighting the breadth of alcohol's impact on an individual's health and safety.