What time would you drive home after this amount of alcohol?

[Hollyhead]

I had 1.5 glasses of champagne and a small glass of wine between 12.30pm and 2pm with lunch. What time would you drive? Have obviously had a full meal and soft drinks only since then and now feel 100% sober. I figure I’ll be completely clear of alcohol by 8pm, but a couple of people we’re with have said that it’s drink driving because it’s still the same day. I don’t think they’re right because it’s about the alcohol wearing off. Where do you all stand on this? I agree it’s shaky ground if you don’t track carefully what you’re drinking but I am certain that’s all I had.

3.5 hours after last drop

So that's 5.30pm

It's not 'shaky ground' - it's science

Counting it in the day is not scientific

5pm

Thats about 4.5 units: so by five you'd be clear.

Youd certainly be fine by 8.30 and that would not be drink driving: in my view anyway

Personally I won't drive on any alcohol during the same day. However, isn't it something like the body on average processes 1 unit per hour? But must be hugely dependent on other individual factors

That must be about 5 units. Body breaks down alcohol about a unit an hour so by 5 hours it should all have left your system. So by 7 you will be alcohol free.

The same day thing is nonsense, but also why some people drive the next day (while still over the limit) as they think the body does a magic reset at midnight.

I'm very cautious and wouldn't drink at all if I was driving that day or literally just a sip so if they are like me I can see where they are coming from. But if you are sure on your units and assume 1 an hour you should be safe.

Remember to count from when you stopped drinking, not from when you started.

Theres a website called the morning after that will give you an idea, enter the drinks you’ve had and it will tell you how many hours until you should be ok to drive.

thanks everyone, you’ve provided some reassurance that I’m not being completely irresponsible, because I would never drink and drive. My mum is just breaking out a buffet so it’s going to be even later anyway!

Not until early 2023.

however, personally, if I consumed alcohol - and i don’t- I would not drive a road vehicle again. Ever.

Have you considered getting help for your drink problem?

I would wait until the next day.

I'd rather be over cautious than take any risks.

Wouldn't drive at all after that.

I think it depends on how ur body processes the alcohol - but think it’s an hour per unit. I reckon you had about 4 units, so 4 hours but I would then add another 2-3 hours to be safe so 6-7pm?

8pm will be fine. You don't have to be completely free of all traces of alcohol anyhow but by this point you should be.

In England, 8pm. Laws are different in Scotland however and I wouldn't risk it at all until 12 hours had passed.

Guessing you aren't in Scotland OP?

Personally I don’t take any alcohol if I am
driving. It’s not worth the risk. I live in Scotland though and the rules are more strict but I just think it’s dodgy territory so why risk drinking and driving at all. I can have one glass of champagne and feel totally tipsy.

😬

You need to invest in a thimble, OP, so you can track your Christmas alcohol consumption more effectively.

Even with Scotland's lower limit after 5 hours 5 units will be broken down by the body.

As the OP finished drinking at 2 by 7 she will be clear or nearly clear. Given she isn't leaving for at least another hour she is fine to drive.

Christmas Day 2024, to be on the safe side.

Seriously though, if it genuinely was a glass and a half of champagne at standard measures and a small (125ml) glass of wine then unless there are any mitigating factors around your health, a particular intolerance to alcohol or you're especially petite in build, by 8pm you should be absolutely fine if you had your last drink at 2pm.

Agree with PP there is a weird backward perception that a) you need to have slept to clear your system of alcohol and b) sleep is a magic process that will rid you of all trace no matter how much you've drunk the night before

Agree that sleep/clock turning midnight isn't a miracle cure.

I have always worked on the assumption of one until of alcohol an hour counted from one hour AFTER you stop drinking, because the volume of alcohol in your body continues to increase in the first hour after stopping drinking.

I'll be getting my thimble out shortly @FOTTFSOFTFOASM
I have some ready-mixed alcohol free G&T.
I was only joking, and my thought was to round up the units and go by hours since the last drink

You can't just say "5 units 5 hours" firstly we have no idea how big OPs measures are. It's all very well to say small but that's different for every person

Secondly everyone's different. A unit an hour is the theory, but its a vague average and there's lots of factors that can affect it.

I wouldn't usually drink that day if Id drunk that much, it's just a better safe than sorry situation. Plus people OP is with are concerned she's drink driving which gives a possible indication that OP may have had more than she thinks

I sort of agree @CarPoor that those things are to be considered, but because I knew I would need to drive home I poured my portions very carefully and used glasses that I know the capacity of etc. The two indignant people who insisted that driving on the same day was always drunk driving have been shouted down by some of the others who are here, and they even said ‘yes we’ll you’re completely sober, but you still can’t drive today’. They’re the types of people who find safety in following rules, that’s fine for them, but given I’m driving my husband and children and have been extremely sensible I resented their sanctimonious tone, I would never drive if I thought there was any chance of me being affected by what I’d drink and in normal circumstances if I was driving straight after a meal on a night out etc I wouldn’t drink at all.

I'm sorry @MerryChristmasToYou - I have been here for 20 years so just assumed you were taking the piss out of a typical MNer who has a thimble of sherry once a year on Christmas Day and therefore has an alcohol problem she says after a bottle of champagne, but with no risk of driving anywhere