Know Your Limits! - Drink that is!
Find out about units, limits and the law relating to drink driving.
Know your limits - Drink that is!
It's the festive season and we are more likely to be having a wee small one than usual, but what is a unit and how much can you have.
You've probably heard people talking about “units”. It's what alcoholic drinks are measured in. One unit equals 8 grams of pure alcohol. The government sets recommended limits for the number of units men and women should drink every day. 3 to 4 for men, 2 to 3 for women.
The smaller and less developed you are physically, the less units it takes to pass a sensible limit. There are no hard and fast rules. It depends how big or small you are. It depends on the size and the strength of your drink. One thing is for sure. One drink is not necessarily one unit. It can be quite a lot more.
The law is very strict when it comes to drink driving. When the time comes if you're going to drink, don't drive. Get someone else to.
That applies to the morning after as well, just because you've had some sleep doesn't mean that it's out of your system. If you do decide to ignore this advice, here are some of the things you're letting yourself in for. If you're convicted of causing death by careless driving, you could face 14 years in prison, be banned from driving for at least 2 years and have to take an extended driving test.
If you drive or attempt to drive while above the legal limit or if you're unfit through drink, then you'll get 6 months in prison, plus a fine of £5,000 and a one-year ban from driving.
If you're in charge of a vehicle while over the legal limit or unfit through drink, you face 3 months imprisonment, a ban from driving and a fine of £2,500.
And refusing to provide a breath, blood or urine sample will land you with 6 months imprisonment plus a fine of £5,000. You'll also be banned from driving for at least 12 months.
For further information you can visit www.drinkaware.co.uk or www.alcoholconcern.org.uk
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