How many units can you drink and drive? UK alcohol limits explained – The US Sun

DRIVING under the influence of alcohol is illegal in the UK and anyone found guilty could receive a serious penalty.

Because of the ways in which alcohol can affect a person’s driving, there are strict rules about how many drinks you can drink and still be able to drive legally. Here’s what we know.

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How many units of alcohol can you drink before driving?

The drink driving limit in the UK is measured in milligrams, not units.

The limit is 80 milligrams in every 100 milliliters of blood.

This roughly translates to four units of alcohol for men and three units for women, but this is not a one-size-fits-all rule.

Body mass, gender and how quickly the body absorbs alcohol are important factors in how each individual is affected by alcohol consumption.

Generally speaking, two liters of beer or two small glasses of wine are enough to exceed the legal limit.

The stronger your drink, the longer it takes to leave your system, so a large glass of wine (250ml) can stay in your blood for four hours after drinking.

While a pint may take less time to leave your system (two hours instead of four), you should still factor in an hour for it to be absorbed by your body.

For example, if you drink four liters and stop drinking at midnight, you will not be safe to drive before 9am.

Each person has their own limit because all bodies process alcohol differently.

But if you’re planning on driving, the easiest way to make sure you’re on the right side of the law and safe behind the wheel is to not drink anything.

If you enjoy a night out drinking, you should still set aside plenty of time the next day before hitting the road.

What is the drink driving limit in the UK?

The drink driving limit varies across the UK depending on the country.

There are different rules for drivers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland than for drivers in Scotland.

The boundaries for England, Wales and Northern Ireland are:

• 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood
• 35mg per 100ml of breath
• 107mg per 100ml of urine

In Scotland the limits are:

• 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood
• 22mg per 100ml of breath
• 67mg milligrams per 100ml of urine

Scottish regulations mean just one drink can exceed the limit.

Keep in mind that even if you are under the limit, one drink can still impair your driving skills and make it unsafe to get into the car.

In fact, with just 10mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood (one-eighth of the limit in England and Wales), you are 37% more likely to be in a fatal accident than when you are completely sober.

For this reason, it is best to avoid driving after consuming alcohol. – It iseven if you think you can handle your drinking.

How does alcohol affect driving?

Having alcohol in your system impairs your ability to drive safely because:

• The brain takes longer to receive visual messages from the eyes
• Information processing slows down
• Instructions to the body’s muscles are delayed, resulting in longer reaction times
• Blurred or double vision affects the ability to clearly see people, other vehicles, and hazards while driving
• Lowered inhibitions make drivers more likely to take potentially dangerous risks

Remember that drinking will cause all of these deficiencies, not just one.

All of these effects combined can result in dangerous driving.

What can affect the drink driving limit?

There are several factors that can affect the amount of alcohol absorbed into the blood, and when it goes beyond the limit.

These levels may depend on:

• Your weight, age, gender, and metabolism (the rate at which your body uses energy)
• The type and amount of alcohol you drank
• How much have you eaten recently
• Your current stress levels

What is the penalty for drunk driving?

The actual sentence a person receives depends on the offense and is up to the magistrates who judge the case.

Here are the maximum penalties applied to drunk drivers:

• Being in control of a vehicle over the legal limit or unfit due to alcohol: Three months in prison, fine of up to £2,500 and possible driving ban
• Driving or attempting to drive over the legal or improper limit due to alcohol: Six months in prison, an unlimited fine and a driving ban for at least one year (three years if you have been convicted twice in 10 years)
• Refusing to provide a breath, blood or urine sample for analysis: Six months in prison, unlimited fine and driving ban for at least one year
• Causing death by careless driving under the influence of drink: 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine, a driving ban for at least two years and an extended driving test before your license is returned

Other complications include:

• A significant increase in the cost of car insurance
• Employers will see convictions on the licenses of individuals who drive to work
• Problems traveling to countries like the USA

When were roadside breathalyzer tests introduced?

The first roadside breathalyzer test was carried out 50 years ago, on October 8, 1967.

The year the breathalyzer was introduced, 1,640 people died in accidents blamed on alcohol, but publicans protested to the then Transport Minister, Barbara Castle, that the new law could put them out of business.

AA president Edmund King said: “Breathalysers sit alongside mandatory seatbelts and the introduction of Euro NCAP crash tests as the three biggest life-saving road safety measures introduced in the last half century.

“The breathalyzer and subsequent campaigns saved thousands of lives and helped make drink-driving socially unacceptable.”