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AndyMac said:
I think everyone would agree with you there Jeff, the issue which worries me is the morning after. When is it safe to drive after a p*ss up? You may not even feel hung over but could still be over the limit at 9am the following morning.
I've been to plenty or works do's where drinking stops at 3am and these guys are in their cars at 8am, no way under the limit. That's an extreme example, but where is the line?
I'm certain I've driven over the limit the next day without even being aware of it. I guess the difference is you aren't suffering from drunkeness so are less likely to have an accident as a result of the alcohol, but you could easily be done for speeding, and then breathalised as a result. You could potentially kill someone in an accident, totally not your fault, and then find yourself up on a manslaughter charge. Doesn't bear thinking about, it's getting scarier & scarier getting behind the wheel.
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I've had some experience of the morning after, and it was a scary one, I can tell you. About seven years ago, I spent a Friday night at my brother's house near Eastbourne. We were drinking til about 3am. At about 9.30am, without having had anything to eat or drink (not even a cup of coffee), I set off to drive back to London. About half way, I passed out behind the wheel & veered off the road. The bumping on the grass verge woke me up & I managed to haul the car to a halt just before it hit a road sign. After a few minutes while I was all over the place, I managed to settle my nerves enough to drive off.
Just as I was pulling away, a police car arrived. They'd been called by another driver who had seen me go off the road. They made sure I was OK, & then presented me with The Bag to blow into. I stank of alcohol. It was oozing from me. To this day, I will never know how I passed that breath test. They had to let me drive off. At the first garage I came to in Tunbridge Wells, I went & had a cold water wash, then drank two pints of milk. I had a lot of explaining to do to the missus when I got home, and since that day, I have simply changed the way I approach drinking, if I even suspect I might be driving before Midday the following day.
