Neurosurgeon Shows ‘How Easy’ It Is To Be Drunk Before Reaching Legal Limit

Social media is an excellent platform for medical professionals like Brian Hoeflinger to showcase the good, the bad, and the ugly. Recently, the neurosurgeon recorded himself using a handheld breathalyzer after each glass of red wine and went viral on TikTok.

The goal of the video, which has racked up over 3 million views, was to demonstrate “how easy it is” to become intoxicated before reaching the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit of 0.08 percent in the United States. When a person’s BAC exceeds this level, they are considered legally intoxicated. However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) notes that a BAC of just 0.02 percent can lead to a loss of judgment and a decline in the ability to perform two tasks simultaneously.

In the July 19 clip, the 59-year-old neurosurgeon reached a BAC of 0.075 after consuming four glasses of wine in two hours.

“It is never a good idea to drink and drive, even if you’ve only had one drink and don’t yet feel its effects,” he told Newsweek. “For some people, one drink may contain three ounces of liquor—like two shots of vodka, for instance—and your body only metabolizes one ounce of alcohol per hour. So it would take three hours for that amount of alcohol to leave your system.”

After two 5-ounce glasses of wine, Hoeflinger, from Toledo, Ohio, began to feel the effects of alcohol. His BAC registered at 0.05 after the third glass. The clip concludes with the heartbreaking reason why he was motivated to share the video.

Viewers are shown a photo of a smashed-up car and a picture of a teenager—Hoeflinger’s son, Brian—who passed away at the age of 18.

“Brian died in a drunk-driving accident, and he was the drunk driver. I strive to educate people on the dangers of getting drunk, especially when it involves drinking and driving,” the father-of-four told Newsweek. “Death and injury from drunk driving are completely preventable!”

According to the NHTSA, approximately 37 individuals in the United States lose their lives daily in drunk-driving accidents—equivalent to one person every 39 minutes. Hoeflinger also lost his brother, Eric, who was struck by a drunk driver and left with life-changing injuries.

“He could never walk or talk again, and he passed away about ten years ago,” he said.

Hoeflinger now raises awareness on social media using the handle @doctorhoeflinger—he regularly shares informative videos with his 558,000 followers.

“When I am on Level 1 Trauma call as a neurosurgeon, you would be amazed at how many of the accidents, injuries, and deaths I see are alcohol-related.

“I try to make my social media videos as down to earth as I can for people to understand,” he told Newsweek. “I think if one of my videos can bring awareness to just one person and it ends up changing their behavior, especially with drinking and driving, then that could be one life saved even though you can never know.”

So far, the video has received almost 4,000 comments, with many expressing condolences to the grieving father.

“The fact that you did the experiment without mentioning your loss first is so powerful. I am so, so sorry for what happened. This was definitely eye opening,” said one user.

Another wrote: “So so sorry for your loss. I am a victim of a drunk driver. he run me over and I flew 20 meters. I was a medical student and due to my injuries I cannot continue. I will no longer be able to have kids.”

“To do this with so much composure while knowing what’s happened in your past with drinking and driving is quite remarkable. Wish you the best,” said a third commenter.

To learn more about treatment for all types of substance use disorder, see FindTreatment.gov or call the national helpline of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, on 1-800-662-HELP (4357).