People always say, just down pints of water, have a vitamin C, eat a fat fry-up and you’ll be fine.
As is often the way with advice from drunk people – this is completely untrue.
With the festive season in full swing, you should definitely heed the barrage of warnings not to drink and drive, particularly the morning after that crazy night before when it’s pretty likely you’re still well over the limit, reports The Mirror.
According to road safety charity Brake, one in five motorists admitted to hitting the road first thing in the morning after a boozy night out.
Often people do not stop drinking until 3am or 4am and then try to drive at 9am or 10am.
It is a myth that a short sleep in between drinking and driving gets rid of the alcohol in your system, as this actually depends on ‘the amount you take in, over what period of time and the speed at which your body gets rid of it’.
Alcohol is removed from the blood at about on unit per hour, though this varies depending on a person’s size, gender, age, liver, metabolism, how much food you have eaten, and the strength of alcohol you have consumed.
No amount of hash browns will speed up the process of extracting alcohol from your blood stream, you’re going to just have to stay with your horrible friends and wait it out, or, dare I say it…use public transport.
The limit for drinking and driving for men is no more than 4 units, and for women no more than 3.
I don’t always know how many units my double rums amount to, so here’s a reference you can use:
- 175ml glass of wine of average strength (12%) – 2.1 units
- 250ml glass of wine of average strength (12%) – 3 units
- One pint of low-strength lager, beer or cider (3.6%) – 2 units
- One pint of high-strength lager, beer or cider (5.2%) – 3 units
- One single measure of spirits – 1 unit
If Helen Mirren said it, it must be true…
If you absolutely have to drive the next day, then opt for lower strength drinks, stop drinking earlier in the night, choose singles, and make every other drink a soft drink.
Whatever happens, don’t drive over the limit an keep yourselves and others around you safe this Christmas…and the rest of the year.
