How long does it take an average 175-pound man to "burn off" the alcohol in one 12-ounce can of beer?

The average time it takes for a 175-pound man to metabolize the alcohol from one 12-ounce can of beer is approximately 2/3 of an hour, or about 40 minutes. This figure is based on general guidelines concerning alcohol metabolism, which indicate that the body processes alcohol at a rate of roughly 0.015% blood alcohol concentration (BAC) per hour.

When consuming a standard 12-ounce beer, which typically contains about 0.54 ounces of pure alcohol, the average person can expect to take around 30 to 40 minutes to eliminate this amount from their system. Factors that influence this rate can include individual metabolism, hydration levels, and food consumption, but for the purposes of this context, the average is typically accepted as close to 40 minutes for a 175-pound individual.

This aligns well with the concept that even though people may have different alcohol tolerances and metabolisms, the standard understanding used in law enforcement and public safety contexts is centered around this average for simplification and public education.