[Medicolegal aspects of acute alcoholic intoxication]

The médico-legal aspects of acute alcohol intoxication mainly concern driving while under the effect of alcohol and the regulation thereof. In France, the legal limit is 0.8 mg of alcohol per litre of blood and 0.4 mg per litre of expired air. Examination is made by breathalyser on expired air. In the blood, measurement is performed by oxidation-reduction or gas chromatography, and in the expired air, by alcoholometry. Determination of the level of blood alcohol remains only approximate and a minimal indicator, given the variable number of factors that may intervene.