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Would you drink a beer or a glass of wine at dinner and drive home afterwards?

redcup342

Been wondering about this one.

In Germany,The Netherlands and Belgium it really common people will have 1 small beer, a glass of Wine or a large Radler (Shandy) when out and then drive home afterwards.

However in many Eastern EU Countries it seems it's not common at all since the penalties are so heavy (5000 złoty fine for between 0.2 and 0.5 and Jail time over 0.5) in Poland for example.

Czech Republic has zero tolerance.

I myself don't really like the fizzy drink options, not a big tea fan and hate paying for water so I'd usually go for a beer with dinner if its outside on a hot day or a glass of wine if its a good steak.

So what do you think ?
Should we have zero tolerance or is it ok to have a beer or a glass of wine and then drive home afterwards?

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Comments

_Brian

Glass of beer or wine, yep.
Only along with a dinner and I’d be having coffee afterwards.

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

MarinersBlues

It's probably a cultural thing.
Western Europe in general doesn't have the same drinking culture as as Eastern Europe.

The Poles and Czech love their hard liquor, and in volume, so probably tend to SMASH the drink driving limit as opposed to the countries, like Germany,The Netherlands and Belgium where a pint is the preferred drink.

I would have ONE pint or ONE glass of wine with food and drive home.

[Deleted User]

Wasn't a zero tolerance policy introduced here recently?

_Brian

Deleted User wrote: »

Wasn't a zero tolerance policy introduced here recently?

AfterLife

I don't bother anymore. If I want to drink I'll get a taxi or walk to a local restaurant.

Summer wind

No I wouldn't. If I'm driving I stick to coke or orange when I'm out. I would like to see a zero tolerance towards drink driving in Ireland.

blue note

I would. I'm happy to accept a certain level of risk on our roads and that includes people having a coffee while driving, changing radio stations, driving when a little tired or driving with a small amount of alcohol in their system. Getting straight into a car after a pint or a large glass of wine would be questionable, but I don't mind someone having a small drink with their meal, or a large one if they wait a while to get behind the wheel.

The Backwards Man

Nope.

And anyone who doesn't realise that one pint or glass of beer impairs driving should have their license taken off them.

bazz26

Nope. I'd get the same thrill from one alcoholic drink as I would from a soft drink so don't see the point in the just having the one if driving. I'll either go t total or leave the car at home and enjoy a few beers. I also need my car for work so wouldn't risk being put off the road for the sake of having one silly drink.

Dravokivich

Don't even think about it at all if I'm going to be driving.

_Brian

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Nope.

And anyone who doesn't realise that one pint or glass of beer impairs driving should have their license taken off them.

We should take license of people who are not breaking the law ??

RobAMerc

I would have 1 ( and 1 only) glass of wine with food. I think we have gone OTT on "Road Safety" in this country and common sense no longer prevails.

"If cutting drink driving makes things a bit safer, cutting drinking completely will eradicate it, if cutting speeding makes the roads safer, bringing it down completely will eradicate it" - it wont.

RobAMerc

bazz26 wrote: »

Nope. I'd get the same thrill from one alcoholic drink as I would from a soft drink so don't see the point in the just having the one if driving.

See, the thing is, I dont drink wine to get a thrill, I drink it because it is part of the meal and compliments my food. Not to get pissed !

The Backwards Man

_Brian wrote: »

We should take license of people who are not breaking the law ??

Na, just the ones that don't realise that the drink affects their judgement. If it doesn't, they're either useless at drinking or useless at driving, and I'd bet on the second every time.

blue note

bazz26 wrote: »

Nope. I'd get the same thrill from one alcoholic drink as I would from a soft drink so don't see the point in the just having the one if driving. I'll either go t total or leave the car at home and enjoy a few beers. I also need my car for work so wouldn't risk being put off the road for the sake of having one silly drink.

I went to a bbq at the weekend and had a cold beer with the meal. It was lovely. I wouldn't describe it as a thrill! Similarly, a glass of cab sav with a roast beef sunday dinner is delicious - really enhances the meal. Soft drinks can be lovely, but they're not as good. And I don't find any of these drinks thrilling!

redcup342

Summer wind wrote: »

No I wouldn't. If I'm driving I stick to coke or orange when I'm out. I would like to see a zero tolerance towards drink driving in Ireland.

I don't know about you but if I drink 500ml of Cola about an hour later I feel really sleepy as I get a sugar crash.

So I'd drink carbonated water before Coke, never had a good experience on long drives, tiredness can sneak up on you pretty fast.

Christine LaDuchesse

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Nope.

And anyone who doesn't realise that one pint or glass of beer impairs driving should have their license taken off them.

Question, you never ever use your mobile when driving? You never ever change radio stations when driving? You never ever have a coffee/tea behind the wheel? You never reach for a tissue behind the wheel?

If the number of people using their mobile behind the wheel would be compared to the number of people driving when having had one glass in a restaurant during a meal, the mobile phone users would definitely win big, big time. It is truly disgusting and very selfish behaviour. Out of every 10 drivers I come across, and I commute heavily every day, 4 are on their phones!!! Mostly the ones driving vans for a company, who seem to think it is very appropriate to enlarge their office space to their vans!

One of those assholes left my husband disabled in a road traffic accident.

bazz26

RobAMerc wrote: »

See, the thing is, I dont drink wine to get a thrill, I drink it because it is part of the meal and compliments my food. Not to get pissed !

You don't have to be pissed to be over the legal limit. If someone wants a glass of wine good for them and if I want a drink I won't be driving.

RobAMerc

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Na, just the ones that don't realise that the drink affects their judgement. If it doesn't, they're either useless at drinking or useless at driving, and I'd bet on the second every time.

I think having 1 drink with a meal, knowing you've had a drink and behaving accordingly is far less dangerous than driving perfectly sober and paying little or no attention to what you are doing.

The Backwards Man

Christine LaDuchesse wrote: »

Question, you never ever use your mobile when driving? You never ever change radio stations when driving? You never ever have a coffee/tea behind the wheel? You never reach for a tissue behind the wheel?

If the number of people using their mobile behind the wheel would be compared to the number of people driving when having had one glass in a restaurant during a meal, the mobile phone users would definitely win big, big time. It is truly disgusting and very selfish behaviour. Out of every 10 drivers I come across, and I commute heavily every day, 4 are on their phones!!! Mostly the ones driving vans for a company, who seem to think it is very appropriate to enlarge their office space to their vans!

One of those assholes left my husband disabled in a road traffic accident.

Na, I don't do any of those things, you're asking the wrong person about who should be allowed on the roads in fairness, I'd have 90% taken off them.

Driving is a privilege a lot don't deserve, living is a right a lot don't posess.

AfterLife

Christine LaDuchesse wrote: »

Question, you never ever use your mobile when driving? You never ever change radio stations when driving? You never ever have a coffee/tea behind the wheel? You never reach for a tissue behind the wheel?

If the number of people using their mobile behind the wheel would be compared to the number of people driving when having had one glass in a restaurant during a meal, the mobile phone users would definitely win big, big time. It is truly disgusting and very selfish behaviour. Out of every 10 drivers I come across, and I commute heavily every day, 4 are on their phones!!! Mostly the ones driving vans for a company, who seem to think it is very appropriate to enlarge their office space to their vans!

One of those assholes left my husband disabled in a road traffic accident.

There should be much harsher penalties for people using phones. I drove a bike for years before I got a car and the amount of times car drivers on phones nearly took me out was insane. Nobody needs your text that much.

Christine LaDuchesse

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Na, I don't do any of those things, you're asking the wrong person about who should be allowed on the roads in fairness, I'd have 90% taken off them.

Driving is a privilege a lot don't deserve, living is a right a lot don't posess.

I truly hope I asked the wrong person, and if so, my apologies, you are a saint.

The Backwards Man

RobAMerc wrote: »

I think having 1 drink with a meal, knowing you've had a drink and behaving accordingly is far less dangerous than driving perfectly sober and paying little or no attention to what you are doing.

I see both as compromised driving behaviours and I'd rather not share the road with either.

mikeecho

If you have 1 pint (2 units) with your meal , and you spend an hour eating.
Then 1 unit is processed by your body by the end of the meal.

So if you jump into the car , and drive, you'll pass any roadside test, and even if you were breathalyzed at the station, that would take another 30 min at best, followed by a 15% reduction (machine margin of error).

End result = 0 alcohol

Edit* for those that will question the 15% margin of error.

It's just what the machine does.

Look at any evidensier print out on garda Twitter
There'll be 2 readings, those two readings are averaged, then reduced by 15%, and then it gives the final figure.

_Brian

The Backwards Man wrote: »

I see both as compromised driving behaviours and I'd rather not share the road with either.

So, your saying you’ve never broken your concentration when driving “ever”. Because your setting the bar very high for the rest of us mere mortals. I never go out on the road with the intention of being distracted but life happens and humans deal with that the best they can.

theteal

I do enjoy a nice pint of local ale on the odd occasion we get out for a bit of grub

The Backwards Man

_Brian wrote: »

So, your saying you’ve never broken your concentration when driving “ever”. Because your setting the bar very high for the rest of us mere mortals. I never go out on the road with the intention of being distracted but life happens and humans deal with that the best they can.

I'm saying that if you're going out on the road without the intention of giving your utmost attention you shouldn't be on the road. Of course there will be distractions, of course there will be mistakes, but if you're not 100% equipped to deal with them you're a danger to yourself, to me, and to everybody else.

_Brian

The Backwards Man wrote: »

I'm saying that if you're going out on the road with the intention of giving your utmost attention you shouldn't be on the road. .

Im thinking there’s a typo in there somewhere.

The Backwards Man

_Brian wrote: »

Im thinking there’s a typo in there somewhere.

Cheers!

Good job I'm not driving!