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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To appeal this driving ban?

171 replies

GaiusHelenMohiam · 03/03/2022 14:28

Around ten years ago I was very ill, later diagnosed with bipolar, I attempted suicide more than once. I surrendered my driving license.

After about four years I was stable, right meds, right lifestyle, working and all going well. So I reapplied and got my license back. I’ve then had to reapply every year, always successfully.

While in the throes of my illness I struggled a fair bit with alcohol and asked my GP for help. I attended a group for a couple of months, and left the group with the coordinators blessing after a progress review, she said I wasn’t really suited to it as it was aimed at dependent drinkers whereas I was a binge drinker.

This means that I have to have a blood test for my license. It’s always a bit insulting because literally all the literature that comes with the appointment is aimed at High Risk Offenders who drink drive.

I’ve never changed my drinking habits before the test and have always had moderate results.

Anyway Covid delays have meant my reapplication took nearly a year this time (I’ve been allowed to drive while waiting) and I went for my blood test last month.

The results came this morning, again moderate. But the letter says as I have a ‘history of alcohol dependency’ I am banned from driving for a year and have to be abstinent for a year before I can reapply.

What the fuck? Does anyone know if this is worth appealing? I’m not and have never been alcohol dependent, I think there is a mistake in my medical records. I have had my license renewed every year for the past six with no issues at all and this is the first time ‘alcohol dependence’ has been mentioned. They’ve never said I need to be abstinent, just not in the red zone.

I’m kicking myself for not abstaining for a month before the test tbh. But it’s always been fine. I’m fucked without my car, I work more than full time and finish very late, no public transport.

Does anyone know what my chances are of appealing?

OP posts:
girlmom21 · 03/03/2022 15:18

How much is 'moderate'? To be fair if there are four levels and your consumption is the second highest, knowing you're due to be tested, I've kind of changed my view.

owlinnahat · 03/03/2022 15:19

The OP very clearly does have a problem with alcohol. Whether that means she shouldn't drive I cant say.

But she doesn't. She used alcohol to self medicate in the past when unwell. She now does not do that but occasionally drinks a bottle of wine in company which isn't considered alcohol dependency. I don't understand what you're reading that makes you think she has a problem.

bellabasset · 03/03/2022 15:24

What have you got to lose if you appeal? Good luck with it

McScreamysGhostPants · 03/03/2022 15:24

I was diagnosed bipolar fifteen years ago and I made the decision to never tell the DVLA. I know when I am heading to a bad place that I just don't drive. I'm, like you op, much better now than I was then. My bipolar has never ever affected my driving ever. But I was very queued about the DVLA doing this exact thing to me too. I've heard many horror stories.

In your place I would most certainly appeal it. This is shocking.

SamphiretheStickerist · 03/03/2022 15:26

The real message here is that your blood proteins show elevated use of alcohol and have done for some time. You should probably consider that as well as sling if the ban is fair, correct.

Whatever the rights and wrongs you know you will be tested this way. You could prevent this from happening again.

appleturnovers · 03/03/2022 15:26

Definitely appeal it if you have reason to believe it is based on inaccurate information.

Why don't you focus your efforts on stopping drinking completely instead of fighting the technicalities of a ban. - is a stupid comment. Most people in this country drink lightly for social reasons. Abstaining completely for a whole year would be a massive PITA for most people and hinder them socially. Why should OP have to go to those lengths when she's never been dependent on alcohol and, more to the point, has NEVER drink driven?!

Sparticuscaticus · 03/03/2022 15:30

@GaiusHelenMohiam

It might be that someone has seen the referral and taken that to mean I’ve been diagnosed with dependency. That’s the only thing I can think of. But tbh the GP just looked for a local support group and sent me to the nearest. I certainly never said I was dependant, but I was definitely self medicating with booze. The group was literally people having whisky with their cornflakes, with the shakes and having to wean off. I just cracked a bottle of wine a few (too many) times a week.
Do a SARs to GP surgery and complain. That this is factually incorrect and needs correcting.

Then put in an appeal that it was old history and never an issue. You can arrange medical alcohol hair tests if you don't drink excessively they will evidence that- privately it costs about £600 - look it up. It will show last 3-6 months alcohol use in hair tests of excessive and blood tests check for past 3 weeks. That's what children services courts rely on.

balalake · 03/03/2022 15:30

Appeal as you think it is based on incorrect information. Have a plan B based on the assumption it may not be successful.

girlmom21 · 03/03/2022 15:31

@SamphiretheStickerist

The real message here is that your blood proteins show elevated use of alcohol and have done for some time. You should probably consider that as well as sling if the ban is fair, correct.

Whatever the rights and wrongs you know you will be tested this way. You could prevent this from happening again.

I do wonder if it'd because it's consistently moderate and they give the benefit of the doubt for a maximum of 3 or 5 tests or whatever and ban you if you're consistently moderate
Original poster
GaiusHelenMohiam · 03/03/2022 15:36

The other annoying thing is it took the DVLA a year to sort out my application this time, so god knows how long any appeal will take.

OP posts:
SamphiretheStickerist · 03/03/2022 15:38

That was my thought @girlmom21

I have a friend in vaguely similar circumstances and she was very resistant to being policed like this. Understandable from her perspective, but, once she was in the system she eventually had to give in and play it rather than fight it.

BaronessEllarawrosaurus · 03/03/2022 15:38

Am I reading the timeline right that you have been having these tests for 6 years and every one so far has come back moderate?

Maybe you do need to take a serious look at how much you are drinking.

Lougle · 03/03/2022 15:39

www.drinkdriving.org/dvla-medical.php

Did you get sent the exact levels? You could use this page to see what level your results fall into and that might tell you whether they are treating you as an applicant who was previously dependent, misused, etc.

Blossomtoes · 03/03/2022 15:41

@fairylightsandwaxmelts

Why should she have to stop drinking completely when she doesn't have a problem?

Many people would argue that binge drinking is a problem, though.

Only if you binge drink and then drive. Which @GaiusHelenMohiam doesn’t. I’d appeal if it were me. I think it’s absurd.
TheUndoingProject · 03/03/2022 15:42

Only you know the truth OP, but as a (recovering) alcoholic myself I’d strongly encourage you to use this as an opportunity to really, genuinely reflect on your drinking. I’m sorry that you feel like you are being punished for seeking help in the past, but please do get support if you need it.

mummykel16 · 03/03/2022 15:43

@appleturnovers

Definitely appeal it if you have reason to believe it is based on inaccurate information.

Why don't you focus your efforts on stopping drinking completely instead of fighting the technicalities of a ban. - is a stupid comment. Most people in this country drink lightly for social reasons. Abstaining completely for a whole year would be a massive PITA for most people and hinder them socially. Why should OP have to go to those lengths when she's never been dependent on alcohol and, more to the point, has NEVER drink driven?!

I bet she has
Blossomtoes · 03/03/2022 15:44

Why do you say that @mummykel16?

VapeVamp12 · 03/03/2022 15:46

That’s exactly how I feel, I’ve been penalised for asking for help. I feel stupid.

My advice to anyone who needs help with alcohol is do it privately or straight to the AA.

CharacterForming · 03/03/2022 15:46

If the OP decides to play along and not to fight this then she'll be banned from both driving and drinking for a year. Regardless of whether or not her drinking is problematic, that's very harsh given that she's never driven under the influence and there's no reason to think she will.

mummykel16 · 03/03/2022 15:47

Most drinkers have driven over the limit, even more so with binge drinkers.

mummykel16 · 03/03/2022 15:48

@Blossomtoes

Why do you say that *@mummykel16*?
Because of how long it stays in the system, not feeling drunk isn't a good indicator
ThymePoultice · 03/03/2022 15:49

@GaiusHelenMohiam

The other annoying thing is it took the DVLA a year to sort out my application this time, so god knows how long any appeal will take.
I’m sure there are lots of annoying aspects to this but frankly you’ve walked straight into it.

Getting to the point where the DVLA regularly test your blood is serious, so if you don’t have alcohol dependency, why didn’t you complain about that? Why wait until now?

Also, once you had got to the point of regular testing, and apparently accepted the regime of testing without complaint, why not at least temper your alcohol consumption ahead of tests?

I know you say you “couldn’t be bothered” to cut back your drinking before the test, but alcohol intake isn’t a runaway train. It isn’t something that just happens unless you strain every sinew to avoid it.

You do sound like a problem drinker.

VapeVamp12 · 03/03/2022 15:50

Getting to the point where the DVLA regularly test your blood is serious, so if you don’t have alcohol dependency, why didn’t you complain about that? Why wait until now?

OP has to reapply due to bipolar not alcohol FFS.

mummykel16 · 03/03/2022 15:51

I would have thought if driving was so important stopping drinking would be the safest solution, it's not like drinking is mandatory.

mummykel16 · 03/03/2022 15:52

@VapeVamp12

Getting to the point where the DVLA regularly test your blood is serious, so if you don’t have alcohol dependency, why didn’t you complain about that? Why wait until now?

OP has to reapply due to bipolar not alcohol FFS.

No