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Original poster

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

94 replies

Hollyhead · 25/12/2022 18:30

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.

OP posts:
CarPoor · 25/12/2022 20:05

But that still doesn't account for the fact your body doesn't necessarily process alcohol at 1unit/hr. It's just a vague guide and really should be used as a minimum I.e. you definitely shouldn't drive before 5 hrs. There are many factors that can affect it

You can't say you've been extremely sensible. You've drunk 3 alcoholic drinks when your planning on driving. That's the exact opposite of sensible

I agree your relatives are being a bit silly and obviously your units don't magically reset at midnight, but a sleep usually gives plenty of time to ensure that alcohol has left your system. If I've drunk a lot I wouldn't drive the next day either. Its just a time thing

tigger1001 · 25/12/2022 20:06

Personally, I won't drink if I need to drive later. And will give myself at least 12 hours after my last drink before driving the next day. Would rather be safe than sorry.

The hour per unit is a guide - some people will metabolise it and some slower.

sandwichesarelife · 25/12/2022 20:11

You can't say you've been extremely sensible. You've drunk 3 alcoholic drinks when your planning on driving. That's the exact opposite of sensible

this why did you feel the need to drink this much if you had to drive?

thelobsterquadrille · 25/12/2022 20:13

You can't say you've been extremely sensible. You've drunk 3 alcoholic drinks when your planning on driving. That's the exact opposite of sensible

I have to agree with this I'm afraid OP. If I knew I was driving home that evening I wouldn't be drinking at all.

Original poster
Hollyhead · 25/12/2022 20:15

1.5 glasses of 11% fizz and 150ml of 13% white wine is not a massive amount to drink.

Its approximately 4 units, and by the time I drive home, probably at 10pm now, so 8 hours after the last drink, after a nap and 2 meals I would now having actually googled, bet my house that not only would I be under the limit but extremely so.

Because I’ve napped I actually feel in a safer state to drive now than I did on the way here after a terrible night’s sleep!

OP posts:
TroysMammy · 25/12/2022 20:19

Isn't the Police advice "Don't Drink and Drive"? Not you can have this amount but leave it for a certain amount of time before driving. Totally irresponsible and I can't believe other posters condone it.

TigerDroveAgain · 25/12/2022 20:19

It’s obvious OP is unlikely to be over the legal limit to drive at 8pm

what is more pertinent is whether she feels competent to drive - if not whether or not she’s had anything to drink she should not drive

CarPoor · 25/12/2022 20:19

Your still not acknowledging your body may not process alcohol at that rate...

Its not a massive amount. But it would have put you over the limit and I wouldn't drive that day if Ive been over the limit, because you have no idea how fast your body has processed that alcohol.

You also can't justify it by saying you weren't safe to drive there because you were tired on the way over?

EarringsandLipstick · 25/12/2022 20:20

I know that personally, I would not feel safe after (almost) any amount of alcohol. Even a glass of wine has an affect on me that would make me feel unsafe to drive.

That's obviously just me - OP, you sound clear about your measures, as well as how you feel.

I do think basing your ability to drive safely purely on the units drunk is not sensible though.

CarPoor · 25/12/2022 20:20

TigerDroveAgain · 25/12/2022 20:19

It’s obvious OP is unlikely to be over the legal limit to drive at 8pm

what is more pertinent is whether she feels competent to drive - if not whether or not she’s had anything to drink she should not drive

Unlikely is not good enough

ecdysis · 25/12/2022 20:20

You can't just say "5 units 5 hours" firstly we have no idea how big OPs measures are

The size of the drinks is different to the 5 units in 5 hours.

One unit and hour is a good starting place (also important if thinking of driving the next morning)
The size of the measures affects the amount of units not the guide to processing them

Dedontdodatderdode · 25/12/2022 20:21

I wouldn’t drive at all the same day I’d been drinking.
Its not your house you are betting with, it’s the possibility of someone’s life if you have an accident.

I’m really shocked people think this acceptable.

gamerchick · 25/12/2022 20:22

You're probably good by now OP.

SaveMeCheezus · 25/12/2022 20:23

TroysMammy · 25/12/2022 20:19

Isn't the Police advice "Don't Drink and Drive"? Not you can have this amount but leave it for a certain amount of time before driving. Totally irresponsible and I can't believe other posters condone it.

Well obviously the passage of time has a part to play, otherwise it would be 'don't drive again for the rest of your life if you've ever had a drink'.

There are people replying here who would be likely be absolutely fine with the OP drinking a moderate amount of alcohol, finishing at midnight, going to bed and then driving at 8am, but not finishing at 2pm and driving at what is now likely 10pm.

She's had 2 small glasses for goodness sake; not 2 bottles.

FurAndFeathers · 25/12/2022 20:24

CarPoor · 25/12/2022 20:05

But that still doesn't account for the fact your body doesn't necessarily process alcohol at 1unit/hr. It's just a vague guide and really should be used as a minimum I.e. you definitely shouldn't drive before 5 hrs. There are many factors that can affect it

You can't say you've been extremely sensible. You've drunk 3 alcoholic drinks when your planning on driving. That's the exact opposite of sensible

I agree your relatives are being a bit silly and obviously your units don't magically reset at midnight, but a sleep usually gives plenty of time to ensure that alcohol has left your system. If I've drunk a lot I wouldn't drive the next day either. Its just a time thing

But OP is using it as a minimum. Unless she has some kind of metabolic problem she’ll be clear of 4 units of alcohol after 6 hours - and if she started drinking at 12 she’ll likely have metabolised at least one unit by the time she stopped drinking.

you also don’t need to be alcohol free to be safe to drive.

you honestly sound unpleasantly sanctimonious

Original poster
Hollyhead · 25/12/2022 20:24

@carpoor no I may not process 1 unit per hour, but even if my rate is half that given that due to the ongoing mega buffet and never ending board games fest which is pushing the departure back to 10pm, I would have processed the whole lot by then.

And I did feel safe to drive this morning but I didn’t feel anywhere near as good as I do now after a proper meal, a sleep and a day of relaxing.

@TroysMammy yes that is the police advice, but I don’t think it’s drinking and driving if it’s 8-9 hours later after a relatively small amount. If I had what I’d had at a 9pm meal, then drove to work at 6am the next morning would you consider that drink driving?

OP posts:
CarPoor · 25/12/2022 20:25

ecdysis · 25/12/2022 20:20

You can't just say "5 units 5 hours" firstly we have no idea how big OPs measures are

The size of the drinks is different to the 5 units in 5 hours.

One unit and hour is a good starting place (also important if thinking of driving the next morning)
The size of the measures affects the amount of units not the guide to processing them

Yes so we have no idea if OP has actually had 5 units.

And we have no idea if she has actually processed those units per in 5 hrs.

A unit per hour is a minimum not a guide

megletthesecond · 25/12/2022 20:26

Tomorrow morning. That would floor me.

Shade17 · 25/12/2022 20:27

you also don’t need to be alcohol free to be safe to drive.

Absolutely this. Most people would have been under the limit by 4pm. Leaving it an extra 4/5 hours before driving is very sensible and erring on the side of caution.

MichaelFabricantWig · 25/12/2022 20:28

A glass and a half of champagne is not 5 units fgs. That’s about half a bottle. Building in some leeway I reckon by 8 you’d be Ok.

thelobsterquadrille · 25/12/2022 20:28

If I had what I’d had at a 9pm meal, then drove to work at 6am the next morning would you consider that drink driving?

A lot of people do get caught out like that, even if they've only had what you describe as two and a half small glasses.

If I had to drive to work at 6am I probably wouldn't drink 2-3 glasses the night before, no.

MichaelFabricantWig · 25/12/2022 20:30

thedancingbear · 25/12/2022 18:50

Not until early 2023.

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

Eh?

whyever not?

(I dont drink either btw).

FurAndFeathers · 25/12/2022 20:30

thelobsterquadrille · 25/12/2022 20:28

If I had what I’d had at a 9pm meal, then drove to work at 6am the next morning would you consider that drink driving?

A lot of people do get caught out like that, even if they've only had what you describe as two and a half small glasses.

If I had to drive to work at 6am I probably wouldn't drink 2-3 glasses the night before, no.

Please link to case of someone being done for drunk driving the next morning after two glasses of wine the evening before.

if it happens to a lot of people there should be a lot of examples in the media etc you can show us

cakeorwine · 25/12/2022 20:32

TroysMammy · 25/12/2022 20:19

Isn't the Police advice "Don't Drink and Drive"? Not you can have this amount but leave it for a certain amount of time before driving. Totally irresponsible and I can't believe other posters condone it.

So when can you drive after a drink?

Because basically if you have a drink, you do wait a certain time before driving