To have a drink and drive?

If I know I'm driving I won't have any alcohol

I think as a rule of thumb we process one unit of alcohol per hour. The limit here in Scotland is so low that I never risk it.

Was the driver in your friend's son's case someone who had had one gin and tonic over two hours beforehand? If not, it really isn't comparable.

One unit of alcohol - which is a single of 40%abv - is what the average person, in average conditions, processes from their body in one hour.

So if OP drinks the gin, and more than an hour passes before she drives, in all likelyhood her alcohol level will be 0. Not just 'below the limit', but actually nil, no different to when she left home to drive to the pub.

For the average woman, 3 units ish would be needed to be over the limit. Of course, no one is average and you'd have to be a reckless idiot to drink 3 gins and immediately jump in a car. Or indeed one imo.

But one gin and then wait 2.5 hrs before driving? That's no different to having 3 gins in the evening and getting up the next morning and driving after 7.5 hours, which I'm sure many people do without thinking about it and with no risk of being over the limit or even affected by the alcohol.

It's an academic point, really, but the exceptional circumstances would be first time offence and blowing just one or two points over the limit as I suggested in my post. Sentencing guidelines say 'must endorse, may disqualify'. But yes, the reality is that you're probably losing your licence in 99% of instances.

I don't think many people realise how serious - and inconvenient - a drink drive conviction actually is. It's not a slap on the wrist and a couple of points on your licence. You're properly fucked if you're caught. Public transport for at least a year. Sky high car insurance when you finally can drive again, etc.

Because you like the taste ?

Of course it’s fine. One drink and not immediately driving is totally ok and legal. I have one drink( small glass of wine/ half a lager/ single measure) if I’m driving but then soft drinks and normally do t drive for a couple of hours. I wouldn’t have a drink and then drive within the hour.

Are you planning on keeping him, because if I were you I'd be rehoming this fucker

It’s not at least 10 points, it’s an automatic ban unless in really very narrowly defined exceptional circumstances.

Of course it's fine- it takes an hour for a unit of alcohol to clear your system

I wouldn’t have any amount to drive and then drive - what if something were to happen? It might not be your fault or connected to the drink at all, but you’d never forgive yourself.

I agree with the pp who said better to get a taxi when it’s so infrequent, and have a couple.

If you're drinking such a small amount of alcohol, you're unlikely to be so intoxicated that you'd be a danger behind the wheel. You may even be back down below the limit if you leave it 2-2.5 hrs between your last drink and driving.

However, the consequences for getting caught drink driving are hefty. For breathing just one or two points over the limit, you'd automatically get a criminal conviction, at least 10 points on your licence, and a fine based on 100% of your weekly income.

For that alone it's really not worth the risk of getting caught.

Been driving for over 30 years. Have never had even one and driven. It's not worth it.

Do you care more about being under the legal limit or about not being involved in an accident and accidentally killing someone? 🤷🏻‍♀️

Theres plenty of zero alcohol alternatives available these says so why take the risk?

yeah that is NOT another story. What does he actually bring to the relationship?

I wouldn't judge someone who dies what is within the law but I would never do it and never have done.

Well this thread moved on quickly!

No I wouldn't drink and drive but I also wouldn't be with such a joyless man so...

From your last post it sounds like you might have a partner problem rather than a drink problem.

Driving over 2hrs after a single gin and tonic would be fine. You aren’t going to be over the limit or impaired. Although I would have more gin and take a taxi 😄

He never goes out, sees going out at all as a waste of money and petrol, won't do anything to help you and then criticises you for having one drink and driving 2 hours later. So basically he thinks that both of you should spend all your time at home, doing what exactly? Maybe you could ask a friend to deliver some paint and you can both watch it dry together.

On the other hand, that's probably what your thread should really be about.

He sounds problematic on a number of levels.

It's not what I would do, but if I'd did for reassurance sake I'd buy one of those breathalysers, you can get the cheap disposible ones. They may not be 100% accurate, but just for peace of mind.

Also that alcohol can peak in your system an hour or so after the drink, apparently. I'm not sure when the level is at its highest.

Might sound over the top but this is from the perspective of someone who very rarely drinks, and would have zero if driving, and having traffic officers in the family who I hear all about drink drivers from.

Personally, I think the law should be reduced to zero in line with Scotland as I can’t stand drink drivers so I agree with your hubby here.

Your husband would never give you a 10 min lift?

As so often, this isn't about a G&T, is it?

He would never drop/pick me up so I wouldn't even bother asking.

This would concern me more than his complaint about you having a drink. Most partners would be happy to give each other the occasional lift.