At what age does the legal BAC limit of 0.08% apply in Ohio?

In Ohio, the legal Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) limit of 0.08% applies to individuals who are 21 years old and older. This legal threshold is established to help ensure that drivers are capable of operating a vehicle safely and is consistent with standards in many other states.

The rationale behind this age restriction is that individuals under the age of 21 are not legally permitted to consume alcohol, as federal law sets the minimum drinking age at 21. Therefore, while the 0.08% limit is enforced for legal drivers aged 21 and up, stricter penalties apply for underage drinking and driving. Consequently, the limit serves as a baseline for assessing impairment in adults who have the legal right to consume alcohol, while ensuring that those who are not of legal drinking age are held to a zero tolerance policy regarding alcohol consumption and driving.