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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:
Lweji · 23/08/2019 10:23

I personally always leave 12 hours between drinking and driving

Good idea if you are having several drinks.
No point if only a glass of wine that would be cleared out in less than a couple of hours.

tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz · 23/08/2019 10:24

On average it takes an hour to process a unit. Drinking it in half an hour means there's a high likelihood it's still in your system. Driving with your child in the car after that is irresponsible. Why would you take the risk?

Happy to be utterly ridiculous saying that.

flowery · 23/08/2019 11:22

"I wouldn't even have a shandy and drive and believe drinking anything and driving is reckless."

Fine, but drinking a couple of units at the beginning of the evening and then driving four hours later isn't 'drinking and driving' - there will be no alcohol left in your blood by then.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 23/08/2019 11:55

Over the summer I've had a 330ml beer at the park with friends (not UK, there is a bar at the park) at around 4-5 (drunk slowly). Then had dinner and soft drinks. Driven home with kids at around 7. This was about once a week. So my limit is one small wine or beer followed by food and at least one hour, preferably two before driving.

All sorts of things affect your driving performance, such as illness, tiredness, stress, etc. The most unsafe I've ever felt driving was during pregnancy
My reaction times felt slower and I kept forgetting to lock the car when I got places. I am not saying that drink driving is right, but lots of people who do not drink to do drive with reduced reactions.

Bagofworries · 23/08/2019 12:12

I have never understood why we have such specific drink driving limits.
Why are we trusting the majority of people to know exactly how much they can drink without going over the limit?
A glass of wine at home is highly likely to be a larger serving than a pub serving. Most people just arent aware of exactly how many units they are drinking or even how it affects them based on their weight, height and sex.
The drink driving laws are out of date.
It should be zero units. Zero alcohol.
Do not drive if you have had a drink.
If the law was changed to reflect zero alcohol levels to drive, it would simplify a complicated calculation for most people.
I will not drink if I need to drive.

AtmosClock · 23/08/2019 12:17

I have no compunction against having one drink if I’m driving.

Sugarplumfairy65 · 23/08/2019 12:34

I don't even drink if I'm driving the next morning. My brother was killed by drunk driver when he was 18. The guy had just called in at the pub for a couple of pints on his way home from work...

flowery · 23/08/2019 12:35

”It should be zero units. Zero alcohol.”

That wouldn’t be possible- that would mean no cough medicine, no mouthwash, no toothpaste, no Christmas pudding...

isittheholidaysyet · 23/08/2019 12:41

I will have a pint at the start of a night out.
My favourite beers are 3.6 or 3.8 percent. So 2 and a half units maximum. If I've finished it by 8.30, 9pm, I'll probably be fine to drive by 11.30pm.
But we don't go home till 1am, 1.30am so I'm definately fine by then.

Lweji · 23/08/2019 12:56

The drink driving laws are out of date.
It should be zero units. Zero alcohol.
Do not drive if you have had a drink.

Ever? Grin

We have to do calculations even if to decide how long we can drive after a drink.

The problem is not one person drinking a larger glass. It's people drinking several pints or a whole bottle. They know perfectly well they shouldn't.
And the limits are still well within sobriety, exactly because most people wouldn't be able to accurately calculate higher levels and some people are more affected my drinking.

It's well publicised and having a small drink with food or lots of non-alcoholic drinks is perfectly safe and a simple rule for everyone to follow.

Aragog · 23/08/2019 13:01

I normally don't have a drink if I'm driving straight after. I might have a small glass of wine with a meal if I'm drinking a couple of hours later.
I wouldn't drink heavily if I was driving the next morning, but will share a bottle of wine and drink the next day - I'm quite sure the units are out if my system by the .

Penners99 · 23/08/2019 13:03

If I am going to drive I will not have a drink. If I have had even one drink I will not drive, for any reason.

Bagofworries · 25/08/2019 15:07

The current drink driving limit stands at 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood.
The suggestion to lower this to 50mg alcohol per 100ml of blood is a good one imo, and would bring us into line with a number of other European countries.

Pennyeleanor · 25/08/2019 15:13

I don’t drink anything if I’m driving. If I had an accident after just one drink, I know I’d be panicking thinking ‘oh my god, I shouldn’t have had that drink’

tigger1001 · 25/08/2019 15:13

I don't drink and drive. Even one can affect your reaction times.

I am in Scotland where the limit does mean one drink and you are over, but wouldn't have even considered drinking and driving before the limit was lowered.

Drink driving ruins lives. It's just not worth it.

Coldilox · 25/08/2019 15:14

I don’t drink anything if I’m driving within the next 10-12 hours

birdling · 25/08/2019 15:17

I never drink at all if I'm driving, but I couldn't work out which was the right vote 🤔

drivingtofrance · 25/08/2019 15:51

I will drink one or two units if I'm driving. I don't know anyone who totally abstains.

AmateurSwami · 25/08/2019 15:54

None for me, even one makes my head feel a bit buzzy so I’m not fussed and prefer to leave it

drivingtofrance · 25/08/2019 16:21

Couldn't vote as I don' understand the AIBU part.

chomalungma · 25/08/2019 16:24

People who say they don't drink at all if they are driving aren't always saying how much time they leave between having a drink and driving.

I am having a lager tonight. Maybe two. I am driving in the morning. I am sure that will be fine. But I won't drive this evening.

Oldraver · 25/08/2019 16:30

I've not voted as it's not really clear what we are voting for...

If I am going to drive then no I dont even have one drink. I know I will have to got out around 10pm tonight but I still wont drink today.

For me, I have never understood the 'oh I'll have just one I'll be fine', as I wouldn't

Pinkarsedfly · 25/08/2019 16:35

Anyone else gobsmacked that someone can make one g and t last half an hour?

Shock
Merryoldgoat · 25/08/2019 16:36

I very occasionally might have one small flute of bubbles if it’s a celebration and I’m going to be there a while, otherwise nothing.

WelcomeToShootingStars · 25/08/2019 16:37

If I'm driving then I don't have any alcohol. But I don't find it a hardship to not have booze.

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