Alcohol & Driving

Daqster · 26-12-2013 04:33PM #1

First family row there

Okay, so I was asked to collect a friend of the family from a few miles away who was having trouble getting a taxi and I said I would in around 90 minutes as I had just finished one measure of JD and ice and told them that even at that I didn't feel comfortable doing so.

The cast of characters present then hit me with a barrage of:

'You're fine, you can have one drink an hour'

'Yeah, your liver can deroxify (not a misspelling) two units in an hour'

'Do a withnail, ha ha, shout slappers out the..' (his g/f not getting the reference told him to shut up before he could finish this sentence).

'If it's your first drink you're cool bro but would be too much in an hour if your second'

'Just bring an apple and eat it if you get pulled over as the fructose will remove the alcohol from your blood stream'

I personally think there should be a zero tolerance and the limit should be even lower than it is currently, but few questions..

What exactly does = 0.05?

Has anyone witnessed anyone drink driving over the Christmas?

Would you get in a car with someone who has been drinking but below the .05?

Do you ever drive after drinking yourself?

Fr_Dougal · 26-12-2013 04:36PM

Never, ever, drink and drive.

Frosty McSnowballs · 26-12-2013 04:38PM

Tell them to fcuk right off.

rwg · 26-12-2013 04:39PM

'Just bring an apple and eat it if you get pulled over as the fructose will remove the alcohol from your blood stream'

this means Cider would counteract itself

J_E · 26-12-2013 04:41PM

Can't believe people are still so lax about it. Good man for standing your ground

Sky King · 26-12-2013 04:41PM

According to Mattie McGrath TD alcohol can make you more relaxed and comfortable behind the wheel and therefore safer.

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/one-drink-helps-some-drivers-td-26576650.html

TheFarrier · 26-12-2013 04:41PM

rwg wrote: »

'Just bring an apple and eat it if you get pulled over as the fructose will remove the alcohol from your blood stream'

this means Cider would counteract itself

Surely any sugar would have been turned to alcohol during fermentation

PizzamanIRL · 26-12-2013 04:42PM

You're cool, bro.

michael999999 · 26-12-2013 04:42PM

Tell pissed asses to walk!

andy125 · 26-12-2013 04:46PM

lightweight...

J_E · 26-12-2013 04:47PM

andy125 wrote: »

lightweight...

I'm all for banter on Boards but joking about drink driving is weak.

[-0-] · 26-12-2013 04:50PM

Tell them to feck off, seriously.

I was supposed to stay at my sisters last night, but we had a row so I walked home as there were no taxis. The walk was 6 miles on country roads at 4am under moonlight. Fairly dangerous, but I was confident I wouldn't meet a car and I didn't.

No way was I driving. It was actually extremely peaceful and I loved it. I live in the states but I'm home in Ireland for Christmas. That walk is something I'll never forget.

rwg · 26-12-2013 04:51PM

Cydoniac wrote: »

I'm all for banter on Boards but joking about drink driving is weak.

is it actually drink driving though? he's under the legal limit - so its up to individual

Its All Wright · 26-12-2013 04:55PM

I had one irish coffee and i refused to drive..obviously one irish coffee is legal and wouldnt effect my driving abilities but i had no idea what measure of whiskey was put in it so i wouldnt risk the slim chance of being stopped & breathalized, not worth it.

michael999999 · 26-12-2013 04:55PM

rwg wrote: »

is it actually drink driving though? he's under the legal limit - so its up to individual

If he crashed into your family even with one drink, I'm sure you would say it made a difference!

UCDVet · 26-12-2013 04:55PM

It's easy to say, 'Never drink and drive. Zero tolerance!' but if you really look at it objectively I think it's silly.

Yes alcohol impairs your ability to drive. But lots and lots of things impair your ability to drive at a similar rate. Things that are less easy to label as 'evil'. Things like driving with passengers, listening to music, being tired, having to pee, being hungry, having a headache, having a cold, not feeling well, being sad, being angry at your boyfriend, being in a hurry, being old (reaction time decreases with age). Oh and it's not just YOU - the weather impairs your ability to drive. The time of day impairs your ability to drive too.

In a perfect world - you would only drive when you were in perfect physical and mental shape. You would do so in complete silence, alone, in optimal weather conditions, during the day. You'd never drive if you were distracted by anything. You'd never drive if it were raining, snowing, windy, or night time.

So, yeah - it's really easy to say, 'Never drink and drive' but it's kind of ridiculous in my opinion, unless you are equally as restrictive against other things that are equally dangers.

Sleepy Drivers as Dangerous as Drunk Drivers
http://www.doityourself.com/stry/sleepy-drivers-as-dangerous-as-drunk-drivers

Blood alcohol levels are objective and measurable; but the effects aren't. If you drink regularly you might not feel anything at 0.05 - but if you've never had a drink you might feel drunk. Also the guidelines for how much alcohol your body can process....those are just averages. You might be different so even if you find a chart online that says 'If you weigh X you can drink Y and be at a 0.05' YOU personally might be higher or lower.

In all seriousness I'd recommend buying a breathalyzer. It was one of the best gifts I ever got. But it's also useful to get a feel for what these limits will mean for you.

Still - it would take a few drinks for most people to get to 0.05. There are charts you can use that look at your gender, weight, and time you've been drinking to estimate BAC pretty accurately.

EDIT: To be clear, OP, if you ever do not feel comfortable driving for any reason, don't do it. One drink or no drinks. But I also don't have a problem with people who are under the legal limit driving.

Micky Dolenz · 26-12-2013 04:56PM

The dude looking for a lift can either wait or walk.

Good job OP.

The Diabolical Monocle · 26-12-2013 05:00PM

[-0-] wrote: »

Tell them to feck off, seriously.

I was supposed to stay at my sisters last night, but we had a row so I walked home as there were no taxis. The walk was 6 miles on country roads at 4am under moonlight. Fairly dangerous, but I was confident I wouldn't meet a car and I didn't.

No way was I driving. It was actually extremely peaceful and I loved it. I live in the states but I'm home in Ireland for Christmas. That walk is something I'll never forget.

With the utmost respect, you sister needs a punch in the ...t

[-0-] · 26-12-2013 05:02PM

The Diabolical Monocle wrote: »

With the utmost respect, you sister needs a punch in the ...t

She didn't ask me to leave. I did that of my own accord.

TheBully · 26-12-2013 05:03PM

I always drive after 10 or 11 pints! Im only 5 mins from the pub

whupdedo · 26-12-2013 05:03PM

Drink a pint of water, you'll be grand

Micky Dolenz · 26-12-2013 05:04PM

TheBully wrote: »

I always drive after 10 or 11 pints! Im only 5 mins from the pub

Can't believe they still let you drive the bus.

rwg · 26-12-2013 05:04PM

michael999999 wrote: »

If he crashed into your family even with one drink, I'm sure you would say it made a difference!

why would it make a difference? if it did then surely it would be illegal

TheBully · 26-12-2013 05:06PM

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

Can't believe they still let you drive the bus.

Pack of airwaves and avoid all contact with the patrons on the bus and ur grand

Mayo_Boy · 26-12-2013 05:19PM

Never drink and drive. You might hit a bump and spill your drink

Roger_007 · 26-12-2013 05:23PM

michael999999 wrote: »

If he crashed into your family even with one drink, I'm sure you would say it made a difference!

I think everyone has lost the run of themselves here. One drink doesn't make anyone drunk or incapable. That is why there is a limit set, below which you can drive perfectly legally and safely. Otherwise you should not be allowed to drive if you've had a sherry trifle or a slice of Christmas pudding.
I often have a glass of wine with my lunch and I don't feel any less capable of driving and in fact I am not any less capable. Fatigue is actually a much more dangerous problem and the main cause of late-night fatal accidents. I have never heard of anyone becoming apoplectic about someone driving when they are tired.
Common sense is all that is required.

whupdedo · 26-12-2013 05:36PM

The original post is now 1 hour old, surely to Christ he's able to drive by now, or is he going to make a huge deal out of it altogether

arybvtcw0eolkf · 26-12-2013 05:36PM

One JD?..Unless it was a very large one it wouldn't bother me in the least, I'd drive.

Although I don't drink and drive, I do enjoy sitting over two or three pints and riding the motorbike ~ ya get a nice little buzz out of it, relaxing sort of feeling.

martinedwards · 26-12-2013 06:12PM

everyone's body is different, as it their ability to process alcohol.

it also depends on what you've eaten and a load of other factors.

there is no way on earth I'd drink and drive, even after a sniff of alcohol.

if they can't be bothered to stay off the drink and expect someone else to come and dance attendance on them tell them to chase themselves.

unless they give you a 20,000 Euro surity against you loosing your licence of course!

oceanman · 26-12-2013 07:47PM

im all fairness if you feel you cant drive properly after one measure of JD then you probably should give up driving full stop!

rwg · 26-12-2013 07:49PM

oceanman wrote: »

im all fairness if you feel you cant drive properly after one measure of JD then you probably should give up driving full stop!

or JD

Alcohol & Driving

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