Without any doubt this is the most popular question about drink driving.
People ask this question because they want to understand how much they can consume without risking legal penalties or endangering others.
They also ask this question because they want a scientific answer.
"forget about drinking
loads of water
or jogging on the spot for 10 minutes"
Unfortunately, there isn’t one.
Key Points About Drink Driving Limits
1. Legal Limits (Ireland)
· Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC):
· Professional/learner drivers: 20 mg per 100 ml of blood
· Regular drivers: 50 mg per 100 ml of blood
· The limit of 50mgs is low by European standards.
· The BAC in the UK is 80mgs
2. Factors Affecting BAC
· Quantity and strength of alcohol consumed.
· Body weight, age, gender, and metabolism.
· Whether food was eaten before or during drinking.
· Time elapsed since drinking began.
· Whether you are sick or taking medication.
3. General Advice
Even a small amount of alcohol can impair driving ability, and there’s no safe way to calculate BAC without precise testing.
The Medical Bureau of Road Safety state that the safest option is to avoid driving altogether after consuming any alcohol.
How do you get rid of alcohol quickly?
According to the Bureau there is no way, other than the passage of time.
So, forget about drinking loads of water or jogging on the spot for 10 minutes.
Safer to just go back to bed.
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