"The risk of what?"
At best getting points for drunk driving, at worst causing serious injury or death to an innocent person and having to live with that for the rest of my life.
1 hour per unit is an average. I'm only 5'2" and for most of my life certainly during the time when I was drinking more regularly I was also very slim (size 6-8) so would likely have taken my body much longer. Plus as always with these things that average is probably based on how men's bodies work.
Add in people not remembering accurately how much they've had to drink, miscalculating units anyway and not remembering accurately when they had their last drink the night before...
... No! I think it's safer NOT to drive the next day.
This was confirmed for me when friends of my parents, who stayed at my parents the night of the event where they were drinking and didn't drive until late afternoon the next day "to be safe" were killed when the driver went off at a bend, no other vehicles involved - he was found to still be over the drink drive limit but not by a huge amount. And many people would have felt safe driving, not felt drunk at that level, and likely wouldn't think they were over the limit.
The person that hit my friend that lost her baby as a result (8.5 months pregnant) was also driving the afternoon after a night out drinking, and even challenged the breathalyser result legally.
People don't correctly assess their ability to drive.
"Am also amazed at how little socialising posters on MN do. “Oh I’ll have a drink at my next night out in April”. What? Do you not have friends and family? Do you have people over to your house? Go for Sunday lunch occasionally? What do you do with your time if you never socialise???" There are plenty of other ways to socialise that don't involve drinking. People are discussing here the events where they're likely to drink, they're not saying that's the only time they socialise. When I socialise I do things like cinema, bowling, swimming, yoga, walks, cycling, meals out without drinking, visit places of interest (eg museums, art galleries), popping out for coffee...
Whereareyouspot totally agree. I kinda wish I could post video or even photograph of my dad, even when he was my age he looked dreadful, bloated, sallow, waxy skinned, rheumy eyes, dry cracked lips, purple swollen nose and that's just the outward appearance. He's basically completely wrecked his heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, stomach, bowels, , gall bladder, pancreas, bladder... It's all fucked! He's in constant excruciating pain all day every day - and that's WITH basically unlimited morphine & other painkillers. He's on over 200 tablets a day, plus sprays, inhalers and oxygen.
But I think the thing that op & other pps who are drinking more than is strictly healthy is that this did not happen overnight. Of course it doesn't, neither did becoming an alcoholic. It slowly creeps up on a person. Tolerance is built, often they'll go through phases of reducing how much they drink or not drinking and even then it's not immediately obvious withdrawal symptoms but things that are easily explained/excused by other causes eg difficulty sleeping, increased anxiety, craving carbs, increased irritability...
So these symptoms are ignored or excused but they convince themselves they've managed fine without alcohol therefore they will be fine to drink again...
I think anyone with any sense can see how it's easy for gradual increase in amount and regularity can happen. As I say it doesn't happen overnight, it's stealthy and insidious.
It's not pearl clutching, certainly in my case it's a desire NOT to see anyone suffer from the horrific physical and mental effects of alcohol dependency, NOT to have anyone killed or injured as a result of drunk driving (and I include the drunk driver in this, they should be suitably punished of course but serious injury or death I wouldn't wish on anyone).
ReaganSomerset - exactly, it's not just about the amount, it's the effect (physical and mental) and the relationship that person has with alcohol.
Fairylea exactly, it's why many alcohol dependency programmes suggest that changing your friendship circle is something that seriously needs to be considered. My aunt (also a recovering alcoholic, dry 30 years) after several attempts at giving up came to a realisation that part of the problem was her relationship with her best friend since school (also an alcoholic, sadly never able to quit and died of resultant heart disease a few years ago). So she made the decision to go vlc with that person. Not an easy decision.
Apparently a major study showed there's NO healthy limit.
www.theguardian.com/society/2018/aug/23/no-healthy-level-of-alcohol-consumption-says-major-study
But of course basically, the amount and type of harm will vary person to person. There's so many variables, size, sex, race, genetic factors, pre-existing medical conditions...
"So there's really no level of drinking at which the liver escapes scott free? Do livers heal themselves? Or am I thinking of kidneys?" Livers do have regenerative properties BUT this doesn't mean the liver is full back to its original health and if it's repeatedly damaged it eventually stops being able to do this. Scar tissue can form and that creates other problems.
"Wjays changed is our understanding of Heart Disease, Cancer and all the other conditions that drinking can cause." Exactly, especially now fewer people smoke and other causes of these conditions eg work related pollution have been largely eradicated and they realised people were still getting these conditions.
The notion that it's not possible to have fun without alcohol is ridiculous. I've had numerous nights out to restaurants and even pubs & clubs where I haven't been drinking and had a fantastic time. Prior to my accident I was first on the dance floor and last off, I love a laugh and good conversation - all possible without a drink. I've even had people on those nights out who were new or not close acquaintances be sceptical that I was stone cold sober because I was up dancing, talking to new people etc. I've several friends & family who are teetotal for a variety of reasons (personal choice, medical or religious reasons) who are also "life & soul of the party" types. First on the dance floor/karaoke, chatty & outgoing. No alcohol needed.
I do think as a nation we have an addiction to alcohol, the advertising is still promoting alcohol as variously classy/fun/necessary to a night out. Personally I'd ban it, it's just as harmful as tobacco and advertising for that has been banned. It's too cheap, too easily available and too socially acceptable. I'll probably get flamed for all that but it's genuinely how I feel.