DRIVING under the influence of alcohol is illegal in the UK, and anyone found guilty could be handed a serious penalty.
Because of the ways in which alcohol can affect a person’s driving, there are strict rules on how many drinks you can have and still legally be able to drive.
The drink driving limit in the UK is measured in milligrams rather than units.
The limit is 80 milligrams in every 100 millilitres 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 major factors on how each individual is impacted by drinking.
Generally speaking, two pints of beer or two small glasses of wine is enough to put you over the legal limit.
The stronger your drink, the longer it takes to leave your system, so a large glass of wine (250ml) could be in your blood for four hours after drinking.
While a pint might take less time to leave your system (two hours instead of four), you should still factor in an hour for it to absorb into your body.
For example, if you have four pints and stop drinking at midnight, you will not be safe to drive until 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 not to drink at all.
If you enjoy a night of drinking, you should still give yourself plenty of time the next day before hitting the road.
The drink drive limit varies in the UK depending on the country.
There are different rules for motorists in England, Wales and Northern Ireland than for drivers in Scotland.
The limits 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 milligrammes per 100ml of urine
The Scottish regulations mean that just one drink could put you over the limit.
Bear in mind that even if you are below the limit, one drink can still impair your driving skills and make getting in a car unsafe.
In fact, with just 10mg of alcohol per 100ml of your blood (one eighth of the limit in England and Wales), you are 37% more likely to be in a fatal accident than when completely sober.
For this reason it is best to avoid driving after consuming any alcohol — even if you think you can handle your drink.