Drink driving: How long does alcohol really stay in your system? Results will surprise you
MOTORISTS may not be aware of how long they should leave it before getting behind the wheel after having a drink. Here’s what you need to know.
Motorists will be aware of the dangers of getting behind the wheel of a car drunk or after a number of drinks.
The dangers have been well and thoroughly publicised as have the punishments for doing so.
However, the line is blurred when it comes to how long alcohol takes to leave your system and how much you can typically have before driving again.
Drivers may not be aware of how long alcohol can actually remain in your system after a boozy night out.
While you may feel fine the effects of the alcohol could still impact your driving and reaction times.
A National Police Chief Council (NPCC) spokeswoman said: “If you drive the morning after a heavy night out, you could be over the limit and risk innocent lives as well as your own.
“Anyone caught drink or drug driving will face the full penalty of law.”
According to research by Road Respect, the amount go time that a motorist should leave it after having a drink before getting behind the wheel is longer than you may think.
A graphic created by the charity reveals that drives should wait at least two and a half hours after having one pint before driving again.
This increases to 12 and a half hours since the last drink after consuming five pints.
What this means is if you consume five pints and stop drinking at midnight then you really shouldn’t condor driving again until 12:30 pm the following day.
Here is what Road Respect suggest should be the time you leave after drinking and driving again:
Large glass of wine (13.5 per cent)
- One drink - 3.5 hours
- Two drinks - 7 hours
- Three drinks - 10.5 hours
- Four drinks - 14 hours
- Five drinks - 17.5 hours
Pint (four per cent)
- One drink - 2.5 hours
- Two drinks - 5 hours
- Three drinks - 7.5 hours
- Four drinks - 10 hours
- Five drinks - 12.5 hours
Single spirits (40 per cent)
- One drink - 1.5 hours
- Two drinks - 3 hours
- Three drinks - 4.5 hours
- Four drinks - 6 hours
- Five drinks - 7.5 hours
Double spirits (40 per cent)
- One drink - 3.5 hours
- Two drinks - 6 hours
- Three drinks - 9 hours
- Four drinks - 12 hours
- Five drinks - 15 hours
Lager (five per cent)
- One drink - 2.5 hours
- Two drinks - 5 hours
- Three drinks - 7.5 hours
- Four drinks - 10 hours
- Five drinks - 12.5 hours
Why driving dehydrated could be as dangerous as drink driving
As a rough guide, the NHS suggest that one unit is equivalent to 10ml or 8g of pure alcohol.
There are roughly:
- 2.1 units in a standard glass (175ml) of average-strength wine (12 per cent)
- 3 units in a large glass (250ml) of average-strength wine (12 per cent)
- 2 units in a pint of low-strength lager, beer or cider (3.6 per cent)
- 3 units in a pint of higher-strength lager, beer or cider (5.2 per cent)
- 1 unit in a single measure of spirits (25ml)
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland the drink drive limit is as follows:
- Micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath: 35
- Milligrammes per 100 millilitres of blood: 80
- Milligrammes per 100 millilitres of urine: 107
Punishments for drink driving are as follows:
Being in charge of a vehicle while above the legal limit or unfit through drink
You may get:
- 3 months’ imprisonment
- up to £2,500 fine
- a possible driving ban
Driving or attempting to drive while above the legal limit or unfit through drink
You may get:
- 6 months’ imprisonment
- an unlimited fine
- a driving ban for at least 1 year (3 years if convicted twice in 10 years)
Refusing to provide a specimen of breath, blood or urine for analysis
You may get:
- 6 months’ imprisonment
- an unlimited fine
- a ban from driving for at least 1 year
Causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink
You may get:
- 14 years’ imprisonment
- an unlimited fine
- a ban from driving for at least 2 years
- an extended driving test before your licence is returned
You won’t automatically get your licence back if you’re a high-risk offender.
Other punishments you could face:
A conviction for drink-driving also means:
- your car insurance costs will increase significantly
- if you drive for work, your employer will see your conviction on your licence
- you may have trouble travelling to countries like the USA