The legal limit for blood alcohol level in the United States is 0.08%. This means that if your BAC is above this level, you are presumed intoxicated in every state. However, many states also have other limits in place as well. For instance, most states have a “zero tolerance” level that applies to certain drivers, such as teenage drivers who aren’t supposed to be consuming alcohol anyway, and commercial drivers such as bus and truck drivers. In New York, for example, the legal purchase and possession age for beverages containing alcohol is 21, and it is a violation for a person under 21 to drive with any BAC that can be measured (.02 to .07). If you are pulled over by law enforcement in New York and your BAC is above the state’s legal alcohol driving limit of 0.08%, you could be charged with DWI. It is important to note that if your BAC exceeds the legal limit, this does not necessarily mean you will always be convicted of a drunk driving offense. There are a number of defenses you can raise including illegally obtained evidence, rising blood alcohol levels, and more.