Can You Be Drunk In Charge Of A Vehicle The Morning After The Night Before?

Unfortunately, many people who would not even contemplate getting behind the wheel after they had consumed an alcoholic drink do not think twice about doing so the morning after a big night out. Many of us are careful to make plans in advance as to how we will get home at the end of our night out with friends, whether this be booking a taxi or getting a lift with a friend or colleague that has agreed in advance to be the designated driver and remain on soft drinks throughout the evening. However, often little thought is given to your plans for the next day and if these plans involve driving within 24 hours of the end of your night out you could find yourself in serious trouble if pulled over by the police. This article looks at how you can take steps to ensure that you do not fall into the trap of driving whilst under the influence of alcohol by getting behind the wheel the morning after the night before.

First of all, make sure that you are aware of the facts with regards to the consumption of alcohol. Current guidelines state the maximum amount of alcohol that can be consumed in order to remain under the legal limit is 80 mg of alcohol for every 100 ml of blood in our body. Roughly speaking, this translates to one large glass of wine for women (equivalent to three units of alcohol) and two pints of lager for men (equivalent to 4 units of alcohol).

Crucially, the amount of time it takes alcohol to be released from your blood stream can vary depending on your age, weight, height and build but it can take up to 24 hours for the all the alcohol to be released. This means that if you are drinking all evening and have your last alcoholic drink at 1am you are still likely to be over the limit until the following evening and into the night. Do not be fooled into thinking that a cold shower or some black coffee will quicken up the procedure – it will have no effect on the alcohol leaving your bloodstream.

The easiest way to stay safe and to ensure that you are not driving whilst over the influence of alcohol following a night out is to ensure that you either limit the amount of drinks you have during your night out to a minimum, or refrain from driving at all the next day. The effects of the alcohol on your driving, if still in your bloodstream, could be just as harmful the next morning as they would be if you got behind the wheel at the end of your night out. In addition, the penalties for being caught driving under the influence of alcohol will be the same no matter how many hours have passed. Let common sense prevail and act with caution to ensure you do not pose a danger to yourself or other road users.

Bookmark This Article With:

• Tweet This
• Delicious
• Digg
• reddit
• Facebook
• StumbleUpon

We Help You Across England and Wales

Although we operate from offices near Gatwick in Surrey we regularly accept instructions across England and Wales and have barristers ready to represent you in all courts even at short notice. We can take full instructions on the telephone or in person.

Call us free on 0808 178 9002 or complete our Online Enquiry Form now for a
free no obligation opinion and discussion.

Credit Card Payments Accepted

Legal Website Design - Samson Consulting © Gray Hooper Holt LLP.

This web site has been developed with valid XHTML / CSS / Site Map / Terms

Gray Hooper Holt LLP is a firm of solicitors and is Authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Its registered office is at 6 Linkfield Corner, Redhill, Surrey, RH1 1BB and its company number is OC318445.