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Under 14 CFR 91.17, how long after drinking alcohol must you wait before acting as a crewmember?

At least 8 hours.

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  1. 8 hours ✔
  2. 4 hours
  3. 12 hours

Why: The rule is 8 hours from bottle to throttle. It also bars flying while under the influence of alcohol or with a blood or breath alcohol concentration of 0.04 or greater.

Huh, didn't know that: The regulation defines alcohol concentration in grams of alcohol per deciliter of blood or per 210 liters of breath.

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References

Answer: 8 hours. The rule is 8 hours from bottle to throttle. It also bars flying while under the influence of alcohol or with a blood or breath alcohol concentration of 0.04 or greater.

  1. 14 CFR 91.17 Alcohol or drugs www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/91.17
    Within 8 hours after the consumption of any alcoholic beverage;
    Checked 2026-10-10.
  2. 14 CFR 91.17 Alcohol or drugs www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/91.17
    While having an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or greater in a blood or breath specimen.
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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