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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Do many of you drink ( within the legal anount) and drive?

212 replies

RebornFlame · 22/08/2019 20:05

Round here we have no public transport and taxis close up shop about 8/9pm. Most people I know will be a designated driver but often have a pint and then soft drinks. Some a bit more. Non off thier face drunk. I’m a fairly new driver so usually I’ll abstain or have a drink if I know it’s hours before I’m going to drink. What’s normal for you and your area?

OP posts:
MountPheasant · 22/08/2019 20:05

Very much one and done round here, south east!

ANiceLuxury · 22/08/2019 20:06

You shouldn’t drink anything and drive imo

noeyedeer · 22/08/2019 20:06

I don't have a drink at all if I'm driving.

dementedpixie · 22/08/2019 20:07

I'm in Scotland so you couldn't even have 1 drink and then drive. I suppose if you had 1 drink and then nothing for a couple of hours you would be ok but I wouldn't do it

BelleCarig · 22/08/2019 20:07

Nah, I won't even have one if I'm driving. Just not worth it

ItsLikeSputnik · 22/08/2019 20:07

Total abstinence for me and other drivers I know. But I’m in Scotland and our drink drive laws are much stricter than in England and Wales.

june2007 · 22/08/2019 20:07

It's tough you can have a drink and be with in the limits, you mate could have the same drink and be over.

HappyParent2000 · 22/08/2019 20:07

If I am driving that day or before lunch the next morning I don’t drink.

Been addicted to 0% beer this summer, the San Miguel one is super nice as is the Peroni one.

DCIRozHuntley · 22/08/2019 20:07

I don't drink anything if I'm driving. I drink so rarely that I just bundle a taxi in with the cost of a night out. Also, because I do drink so rarely, I can tell I've had a drink after an inch of wine so I would never every risk it.

Whatwouldbigfatfannydo · 22/08/2019 20:08

There is no legal amount. There's no excuse to drink a single drop if you're driving. Have a pint of non alcoholic beer if you really want a drink with that taste but I fail to see why anyone does...

MerryDeath · 22/08/2019 20:09

in my opinion the limit should be absolutely zero to avoid the doubt. i never drink anything if i am driving but then i do not ever 'need' a drink.

timshelthechoice · 22/08/2019 20:09

I don't drink at all now but when I did I never drank a thing if I were driving.

Flowersaremylove · 22/08/2019 20:09

I don’t touch a drop if I’m driving, no driving for 24 hours if I have a drink,

Might be over cautious but I don’t care,

Littlechocola · 22/08/2019 20:09

It’s not worth it.
The limit should be 0.

Ponoka7 · 22/08/2019 20:10

It depends on how good a driver you are and your tolerance to alcohol.

In my area/group a really good driver would have one drink. I've known a few to have two, over the evening with food. Some are taxi drivers and have the test strips.

These people are better drivers than me. I wouldn't drink and drive at all. My alcohol tolerance is rubbish, though.

RebornFlame · 22/08/2019 20:10

I sometimes think the limit should be zero too because it’s confusing. Also it removes that temptation of just the one...

OP posts:
TheLovleyChebbyMcGee · 22/08/2019 20:11

I'm in scotland so no I don't even have one. Prior to the change in limit I still wouldn't have had one, no point really.

bellinisurge · 22/08/2019 20:11

Not a drop. Ever. I'm old. I've always been the designated driver because I don't trust anyone (apart from dh).

AlexaShutUp · 22/08/2019 20:12

I don't usually drink at all if I'm driving. I might occasionally have a couple of sips of wine with a meal if I know it'll be at least 2-3 hours before I head home, but even then, I won't have a proper glass.

A friend asked me to nip to the pub with her for a drink the other day when I dropped her daughter home. She seemed surprised when I said that I would only be on the soft drinks, so I guess lots of people think nothing of having a glass of something when they're driving. Personally, I prefer to avoid it altogether. Simpler and safer in my view.

Flude · 22/08/2019 20:12

I think it should be like in Australia where even just one drink is over the limit.

Never have ever had a drink and driven within 24 hours.

Stroan · 22/08/2019 20:14

Absolutely not. And not because of the law either, but because I saw the damage that a drink driver can do when he nearly wiped me and my family out.

I find drink driving completely reprehensible

RidgedPerfection · 22/08/2019 20:15

I live rurally and it is not unusual to drink and drive around here. I don't touch any alcohol if I am going to drive though and nor does DH.

BrokenWing · 22/08/2019 20:15

I am in Scotland where the limit is much lower, so you cant really have even one drink and drive. I am ancient old enough to have been driving before the reduced limit and still, if I was driving, wouldn't drink.

It's tough you can have a drink and be with in the limits, you mate could have the same drink and be over

It is about time the rest of the UK reduced their limit so there is no speculation on whether you are under or over, just don't drink and drive.

Ilikethisone · 22/08/2019 20:16

I wont even have one and drive.

I am englnd so it isnt the law here. But I just wont.

If i am driving the next day I might have 2 smsll glasses of wine at most. But ensure its at at least 10 hours between finishing and getting in the car.

The only time I drink more than 2 is if I know I dont have to drive the next day, at all. So if was drinking tonight I wouldn't be driving until saturday.

So many people drive the next day, still over the limit without realising it. I hate even worrying about it.

I would lose my company car, for a start.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 22/08/2019 20:16

No, would never have a drink and then drive. I don’t need to drink on a night out though for it to be enjoyable.