I drink and drive...!

[chris8886]

Originally Posted by FeRoL

Aye was thinking of heading down this sunday to show my face (weather and girlfriend dependant though)

come to soho on friday night. is a good laugh, we meet before and i can lead you there if you like

Originally Posted by BluePete

Personally, none, but that's just 'cos I feel the effect of alcohol really fast.

Now then, limits.

The legal limit is 35 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, or 80 milligrammes in 100 millilitres of blood.

This is what the handheld Lion Intoxemeter tests for on the side of the road.

That usually equates to three units. This was derived from a test many years ago where one pint of standard bitter was two units. So the education was one pint and a half would be just ok. However, these days, so many drinks are a lot stronger and the education has not caught up that people are unsure what is what.


The average human takes one hour to metabolise one unit of alcohol. So, in theory, a pint of Stella (at around 3.5 units) takes three and a half hours to get rid of. Many people fail breath tests because of exactly this. They think two pints is ok. But two pints at 3.5 units each is twice the legal limit. If they take an hour to have those two pints,

"Just popping out for a swift one with Joe from down the road love"

they will still blow around the 50 to 60 mark and face arrest.

There are Doctors wo make a very, very good living as expert witnesses on alcohol consumtion and impairment in the courts and it is a very complicated subject. In the end, there is no way to calculate your breath or blood alcohol levels yourself without resorting to owning a calibrated, Police Lion kit.

Thats a very useful post from someone who knows their onions. Thanks Pete. I thought I was OK immediately after one and a half pint of Stella! I'll have to rethink that one.

So what were saying is I'd be right on the 3 unit fail breathalizer threshold, if I drank a pint of Stella in 1/2 hour then jumped straight in the car, is that correct?

No, zero tolerance is no good for exactly the kind of reason Tiger mentions.

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

Thats a very useful post from someone who knows their onions. Thanks Pete. I thought I was OK immediately after one and a half pint of Stella! I'll have to rethink that one.

So what were saying is I'd be right on the 3 unit fail breathalizer threshold, if I drank a pint of Stella in 1/2 hour then jumped straight in the car, is that correct?

Yes and no as Pete said it depends on how quickly you metabolise the alcohol, thats what it comes down too, you may be okay, but I might not. The way our bodies work is very different, i.e some people's core tempertaure is warmer or cooler than average, like mine can be.

Also what alot of people get caught out on, is the morning after. Been out the nightbefore and got trashed, then get up in the morning to drive, if tested you could be over the limit, To test this when I was training we used the breath machine on mate who was drunk the nightbefore, it went to orange!

To be honest its best not to have anything, I don't drink stella anymore too strong and tastes bad!

[chris8886]

Originally Posted by bluethunder

I don't drink stella anymore too strong and tastes bad!

tastes bad?! the stuff is absolutely filthy!!

Originally Posted by phil24_7

+1 (though my tipple was Bud/Heiny/Fosters) and I don't touch alcohol if I'm riding.

plus, you get a rollocking off me if you do!!

Originally Posted by chris8886

tastes bad?! the stuff is absolutely filthy!!

Very true, I avoid Stella where possible too, I just used it as an example of a stong lager that everybody knows.

In Scotland sometimes your left with a lager choice of Stella or Tennents, then the Stella's suddenly not so bad.

if i,m driving or on the bike i,ll have 1 pint (max) but more often than not i,ll stick with soft drinks.

[fizzwheel]

1 drink normally a bottle of beer i.e Corona if I drive to have a meal and I drink that first whilst I'm eating. Then no more.

If I am on the bike then I dont have anything.

[chris8886]

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

Very true, I avoid Stella where possible too, I just used it as an example of a stong lager that everybody knows.

In Scotland sometimes your left with a lager choice of Stella or Tennents, then the Stella's suddenly not so bad.

well we know you scots can't make any good beer






*hides in corner from the ecosse massive*