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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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:
Alloftit · 23/08/2019 07:38

It’s rare in real life for anyone to have the attitude a lot on this thread have, that even one is completely unreasonable and wouldn’t be touched, but equally there’s too much drink driving around here generally. Live rurally, in the south. I wouldn’t personally have any more than one, if I knew I were to drive home, but lots do.

Nowisthemonthofmaying · 23/08/2019 07:39

I'll have one with a meal and drive, but that's normally 2 hours or so later so it will have worn off by then. Wouldn't drive straight after a glass of wine though as I'm a lightweight.

soulrunner · 23/08/2019 07:41

I’d have one but have it as the first drink so I might have it at 8 and then not drive till 10:30. I don’t really go out just for drinks so I’d be eating a full meal with it.

Madein1995 · 23/08/2019 07:42

The legal unit is 2ubits to drive. Leaving aside that's that on a average person and who's average, how many people know how much units they drink? A pint of carking is 2 4ubirs

Asdf12345 · 23/08/2019 07:43

One then the soft drinks.

Lweji · 23/08/2019 07:44

Very rarely, but I occasionally do have a small glass of wine, or sangria (love it) if I'm having a meal at the same time, and the rest will be water or a soft drink.

If you're driving late at night feeling sleepy, long hours, under some medication or under the weather, it can well be worse than having a tiny amount of alcohol in your system. And many people are bad drivers perfectly sober. So, I wouldn't be sanctimonious about a small drink.

1300cakes · 23/08/2019 07:45

I would have 1-2 glasses if I was going to be driving later. You can process alcohol at around 1 standard drink per hour. Even if rounding up to be safe, 1 drink is not only well under the limit after 2 hours, it would be undetectable.

Don't drink if you don't want too, but pp who said they wouldn't drive for at least 24 hours if they even had a sip are really exaggerating.

I'm in Australia where the limit has always been 0.05, so I'm suprised to learn Scotland has just been lowered to this level and everyone sees it as really low and "even a sip is banned".

Madein1995 · 23/08/2019 07:45

Also one drink could be over the limit, it isn't his much drinks but rather how many units. A large glass of wine probably has 3rubuts for eg

Ilikethisone · 23/08/2019 07:47

These threads are odd.

Why do people dislike that people wont be a drink at all and drive?

No one said it was virtuous. The fact is that I dont know how quickly I will metabolise. Theres averages, but individuals are different.

I also understand that you metabolise it. But since I have never tested it, I wont risk losing my job and car.

Some people just arent bothered. Me and my best friend, just sent nithered about a drink. At a bbq we will take 0% cider.

It's not something we are bothered about. It doesn't feel we are missing out. We dont feel better than anyone else. Alcohol just doesnt feel that interesting to me.

Dairyqueen2 · 23/08/2019 07:50

Friends and I often meet up in rural pub/restaurant for a meal. The driver changes, but whoever is driving always has one drink - usually a G&T, then soft. So none of my friends has the prevailing attitude here of "wouldn't have a sip ". I think IRL most people feel fine with the idea of having one.

1300cakes · 23/08/2019 07:50

Its not that people dislike it, of course drink as little as you like. Some people don't drink at all whether they drive or not and that's fine.

Just pointing out that people saying you will be found to blow over 0.05 or 0.08 after 1 standard drink 5 hours ago, or that you must leave minimum 24 hours before driving, are factually incorrect.

Abraid2 · 23/08/2019 07:50

That’s why I made the point about 125ml glasses. Our wine glasses at home are this size too. Much easier to keep an eye on amount consumed.

Lora8 · 23/08/2019 07:50

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OtraCosaMariposa · 23/08/2019 07:55

Not driving for 24 hours after a couple of drinks is totally OTT though and just shows that people don't understand how the body processes alcohol.

herculepoirot2 · 23/08/2019 07:57

I will after one small glass of wine or a half of lager. It’s within the law.

Banjodancer · 23/08/2019 07:58

What worries me more personally is how to know that I'm fine to drive the next day - I mean, if I stop drinking at time x will it be completely gone by time y when I need to drive. I do wish for a completely reliable breathalyser sometimes! I drink very little, but when I have done I get very paranoid about it.

herculepoirot2 · 23/08/2019 07:58

MN is a bit weird for this, though. “I won’t touch a drop of alcohol if I know I’m driving the next day.”

Bit weird. Your call.

Lweji · 23/08/2019 07:59

Just pointing out that people saying you will be found to blow over 0.05 or 0.08 after 1 standard drink 5 hours ago, or that you must leave minimum 24 hours before driving, are factually incorrect.

True.

Also, if you drink as you exit for a short drive home, it will only enter your system after you get home. It takes about 30 min to enter the blood stream properly. A 5 min drive straight after a drink will be safe.

Ithinkmycatisevil · 23/08/2019 08:01

One is the limit around here. But I wouldn’t have even one if I had to drive straight away, maybe if it was going to be over an hour.

ThePolishWombat · 23/08/2019 08:02

I’m very much a “one and done” type. And even then, I’d probably only have one alcoholic drink with a meal and then drive.
Unfortunately this doesn’t seem to be the case among others in my small, rural village Confused I’ve known members of the rugby team (so yes, pretty big blokes) to spend all afternoon after the match in the pub, sinking multiple pints and then drive their huge 4x4 trucks home through twisty country lanes! Seems to be coming less of an occurrence now though since the pub landlord got wind of it and told them that if they’ve got their cars, they either hand over their keys, he calls them a taxi or he won’t serve them more than 2 pints.

Cobblersandhogwash · 23/08/2019 08:03

Zero alcohol when driving.

AmIThough · 23/08/2019 08:03

@Abraid2 no need for a glass with measurements if you just drink the whole bottle Grin

SimplySteveRedux · 23/08/2019 08:03

I live rurally and it is not unusual to drink and drive around here.

Live rurally too and it's not uncommon for people to have a skinful and then drive a couple of miles because "it's only down to the village". From pub to the village there are three schools and a care home, it's just not worth it.

Limit should be zero because any alcohol affects reaction speed and observation, and it's subjective - same drink in two different people can render one under, one over the limit.

Dairyqueen2 · 23/08/2019 08:04

Ithink - yes, I think that's the difference. I wouldn't neck a pub measure G&T then jump in a car. But 3 hours later I feel fine and surely AM fine to drive Confused

herculepoirot2 · 23/08/2019 08:05

You can’t make the limit zero. That would preclude Christmas pudding.