How much is too much?
When will you be over the limit and what happens if you are arrested?
THE festive season is a time to eat, drink and be merry but not taking care when dealing with alcohol could bring a lifetime of regret.
It is the time for socialising with friends and family, parties and New Year’s celebrations and alcohol is ever present.
Even moderate drinkers face the problem that one drink could possibly put them over the limit, even if they do not feel or act inebriated. This could have serious consequences such as imprisonment (up to six years), a criminal record, fines and even having one’s drivers licence revoked.
The golden rule of drinking and driving is simple – just don’t. According to Gary Ronald, head of public affairs for the Automobile Association of South Africa, more than 21 000 people have been arrested on our roads in the last year as a result of drinking and driving, and it has been shown that 50 per cent of people who die on our roads are over the limit.
The legal limit is a breath alcohol content of 0.24mg per 1 000ml, or a blood alcohol limit of 0.05g per 100ml which means 10ml of pure alcohol for an adult weighing 68kg. The human body can process only one unit of alcohol each hour. However, it is important to be aware that if you weigh less than 68kg your body will need more time to process the same amount of alcohol.
In layman’s terms a unit is equal to two thirds of a beer or spirit cooler with 5 per cent alcohol content per hour, 75ml of red or white wine with an alcohol a content of 12 to 14 per cent per hour and whisky and brandy connoisseurs can drink up to one 25ml tot of alcohol per hour.
There is also no quick-fix solution to sobering up. Drinking coffee, a litre of water, sweets with high sugar content, condensed milk or cold showers are all urban myths. Once the alcohol is in your system your liver will need one hour to process a unit of alcohol.
According to Metro police spokesman, Wayne Minnaar motorists should also bear the following in mind:
- If you are arrested for driving under the influence you will not be allowed to smoke or drink a beverage since this might interfere with the measuring of your blood/alcohol content.
- Depending on the police station where you are being held, if you are arrested on a weekend you might only get bail on the Monday.
- If you are arrested a blood sample has to be taken within two hours of arrest and the arresting officer must be present. You can not refuse to have a blood sample taken.
- The punishment meted out by the court depends on the magistrate and aggravating factors may include previous offences.
