How many pints before you drive home this Xmas?

[StuartHopkin]

I thought I would do my bit to get the December post count up after reading this on the good old Daily Hate Mail website....

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/cars/article-3341361/Almost-three-quarters-million-motorists-drink-drive-festive-period.html

I was amazed reading this that so many people admitted they were going to drive over the limit
However reading in more detail they have been asked about one drink, which in my mind would mean you were still legal to drive

So
Do you know what the limit is?
Do you know what your limit is!?
Do you worry about having 1 or 2?
Do you worry about driving the morning after?

Personally I used to to be terrible when I was in my early 20's but now I wont do it all, not sure whether this is my conscience or the fact I can afford taxi's now!

I had to Google to find the exact limit
I would guess I could get away with having 3 Guinness and still being legal
I would never worry about driving after 1 pint

I should probably worry about the morning after more.

[celtic]

They changed the limit in Scotland this year, I doubt I could have a pint and be confident of not being over the limit.

[TightEnd]

i wouldn't have a drop before driving

i doubt i know what my actual limit would be anyway

[AlunB]

Great thread. Huge issue that people think only impacts them.

One MASSIVE impact on it for me, as someone who is *ahem* over 30, is the shift from 3% to 5% lager. In the old days you could just about manage 2 pints in an hour and be under the limit. I think technically it was 1.5 pints of 3% beer? You metabolise roughly 1/2 a pint an hour I think.

Now? If you're drinking 5% beer you should really never drink more than one pint, or as Tighty says just don't drink at all. It's not an exact science as it varies massively from person to person.

Also another big issue is driving the following day when you are still drunk. If you had 8 pints and 6 hours kip you're very likely to still be over the limit.

*steps down off soap box*

[RED-DOG]

My judgement is definitely impaired after one pint and I think I would fail a breathalyser.

[celtic]

Really annoying when I see people getting smashed, knowing they have to be up early next morning to drive to work.

[Doobs]

Most of the time I just don't at all.  Sometimes I'll have one glass of wine with a meal, but even that is rare.  I wouldn't ever do that if I had to go any distance.  I don't think I ever drink enough to render me incapable the next day anymore.  That is more a I just can't handle it issue rather than an avoiding drink driving issue.

[StuartHopkin]

Definitely agree Alun B

Worse than the 5% lagers you now also have to contend with craft beers many of which are up to 7%


Standard Thursday is 5 pints around 4%, which on-line appears to be 10 units
I finish at 11.30pm and drive to work at 7.30am, 8 hours later
That means I still have 2 units in my system in theory.
That's a pretty fine line if the limit is 3-4

It also means that on those occasional Saturdays when I might drink double that I shouldn't be driving until 5pm the next day!

Tempted to purchase a breathalyser!

[Jamier-Host]

Used to have a couple of shandies in order to spread it out a bit.

Hopefully won't be an issue this xmas though as have knocked it on the head completely recently. Did a year or so a while back and wish i'd never started again!

[Graham C]

I tend not to touch a drop if I'm driving.

[cambridgealex]

I find the mood I'm in really effects how the drink affects me. I could be under the limit, pass a breathalyser, but still know that I'm not safe to drive. And vice versa.

[DungBeetle]

I don't drink anything if I'm driving.  I do struggle though to judge if I get wasted when I can drive the next day. EG get hammered till 2am am I okay to drive 12 hours later?  I feel fine, but dunno if I'm still over limit.  Are there home breathalysers you can buy for this purpose?

[Tommo]

If I have to drive I won't touch a drop, it's the what  if I did have an accident and caused someone injury or worse after having a drink then getting behind the wheel that stops me. Even if it was 1 drink I would always be thinking would it have made a difference.

[KarmaDope]

Don't touch the stuff so zero for me.

Anybody who has anything more than half a pint shouldn't drive in the same night.

[AlunB]

I find the mood I'm in really effects how the drink affects me. I could be under the limit, pass a breathalyser, but still know that I'm not safe to drive. And vice versa.

That sounds potentially quite dangerous thinking to me. Would guess that's more your perception of reality than any genuine difference in reaction times etc.