Impaired Driving Prevention – 3 Things to Know
National Impaired Driving Prevention Month is celebrated annually in December, and the message is simple – “Don’t Drive Impaired.” So why is it that after a night of partying a person can think, “It’s only a few blocks, I can drive.” Or after dinner out, a person can say, “What’s the big deal? She’s only had a couple of drinks?”
In this post, I want to answer these questions and share three things to know that can help you prevent and/or protect yourself from impaired driving. And why am I running this now given we’re just heading into November? It’s because the holiday season is upon us — Thanksgiving followed by holiday parties, school and family vacations and ringing in the New Year. I thought having this information now may give you a head start so you’ll have your come-back ready should you be faced with an impaired driver situation.
Know How Little It Takes
So why is it that after a night of partying a person can “think” they are OK to drive?
For many, it’s impossible to understand why this sort of national celebration month is necessary. But for hundreds of thousands more, it’s a surprise to know how little alcohol it takes to be impaired while driving.
Based on the weight variable alone, a person’s BAC (blood alcohol content) will likely be .08 or higher when drinking as follows:
110-129 lbs: 2 standard drinks in an hour or less
130-149 lbs: 3 standard drinks in 2 hours or less
170-189 lbs: 4 standard drinks in 2 hours or less.
Notice I wrote, “based on the weight variable alone.” Many things determine how drunk one person will become compared to another person, even though both drink the same amount. These things – called variables – change how alcohol works in a person’s brain and body. They include gender, medications, stage of brain development, having a mental illness (PTSD, anxiety, depression, for example) and genetics, as examples.
Notice also the words, “standard drinks.” Because ingredients and distilling processes are so different, the amount of alcohol in various types of alcoholic beverages varies widely. Here are the amounts for a standard drink of various types of alcoholic beverages:
Wine = 5 ounces
Regular beer = 12 ounces (so a tall beer = 2 standard drinks)
Champagne = 3.3 ounce
Ale or lagers = 8-9 ounces
80-proof Hard Liquor (tequila, scotch, vodka, gin, bourbon) = 1.5 ounces
Because various cocktails contain more than one standard drink and the same is true of drink containers (a bottle of wine contains five, whereas a bottle of Champagne contains over seven, for example), you may want to check out NIAAA’s website, “Rethinking Drinking.” There you will find drink calculators and beverage container calculators, as well as lots of other drinking-related information.
Know That Even Though a Person Stops Drinking, Their Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) Keeps Rising
Many people ask, “How is it that a person can even ‘think’ they’re good to drive once they’ve been drinking?” And it’s that question that also carries part of the answer – the word, “think.”
Because alcohol is not processed like other foods and liquids, it cannot be vomited, sweated or urinated out. Instead, alcohol skips the digestive system and passes through to the small intestine and on into the bloodstream, traveling quickly to body organs (like the brain) via the bloodstream. Alcohol can only leave the body through the liver.
It takes the liver ABOUT one hour to metabolize (rid the body) of the alcohol in one standard drink. Therefore, 4 drinks will take 4 hours (even if all four were consumed within one hour). While each standard drink waits its turn out the liver, it “sits” in various body organs, like the brain. In other words, the blood alcohol content continues to rise. Not only that, there are those variables changing how one person’s brain and body reacts with alcohol as compared to another person’s. So keep those variables, such as gender, medications, mental illness and genetics, in mind, as well the general rule of thumb – one standard drink, one hour to be metabolized by the liver.
Because the brain controls everything a person thinks, feels, says and does, it’s these variables and BAC that changes how the brain works. Changes in how the brain works are what cause an impaired person to “think” they are safe to drive. Similarly, it’s what causes an impaired person to “think” it’s safe to ride in a car with an impaired driver.
And just so you know, eating a big meal or drinking water does not make you less drunk. That’s because alcohol does not go through the digestive system. Eating a big meal only slows how quickly the alcohol gets into the bloodstream – it doesn’t soak it up. Drinking water only helps with dehydration, which is what causes the hangover feelings. It does not dilute the alcohol.
Know You Don’t Have to Be an Alcoholic to Get a DUI
In fact, most people who drive while impaired are NOT alcoholics. Rather, they are occasional binge drinkers (defined as having 4 or more standard drinks on an occasion for women and 5 or more for men) or heavy social drinkers (defined as routinely having more than 1 standard drink a day for women or 2 standard drinks a day for men) or alcohol abusers (defined as regular binge drinkers and/or heavy social drinkers). Even a “normal” drinker can be an impaired driver.
For more on drinking patterns or tips for cutting down, check out NIAAA’s website, “Rethinking Drinking.”
For More Information and Specifics on Drugged Driving
For more information about drinking, check out these two 10-minute YouTube videos, “How Much is Too Much? At-Risk Drinking Patterns Explained,” and “DUI: Is it A Choice or an Accident?”
For information about drugged driving, visit the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy > Drugged Driving and the Institute for Behavior and Health > Stop Drugged Driving.
Lisa Frederiksen
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Thanks for sharing this important information. As the holidays approach, having a planned designated driver if you are planning to drink is so important to all those on the road. Appreciate the reminder.
Thanks, Cathy – let’s hope it helps – don’t wait to decide, but as you said, plan ahead and have it (either a designated driver or cab or some other form of public transportation) lined up!
The facts, ma’am – and nothing but the facts. Comes naturally to you, Lisa. Another great and helpful article. As you know, I have 29 years of uninterrupted sobriety under my belt. Shoot, I remember how easy it was in the early 80’s to subject oneself to an impaired driving hit. Heck, the bouncers at the clubs handed-out “go-cups” as you headed out the door. Absolutely amazing. And, yes, I took adavantage of many of those handouts, getting nailed for a “DWI” one fateful evening. Thank the Big Guy I didn’t hurt anyone. So very good the emphasis is in place on impaired driving (prevention). It’s just so sad it took the loss of many lives to bring the point home. Your work is important and appreciated…
Bill
Why thank you so much, Bill! And, so true how it was back in the 70s-early 80s and back in my parents day – the Mad Men era. Thank goodness things have gotten as far as they have….
Thanks Lisa, this is great stuff to know. Some really good info here about how the alcohol is processed in the body, and how it isn’t. For instance, most people still think if you eat or drink water, it will dilute the affect of the alcohol already consumed – aka, ‘soak it up’ as you put it. I think your timing perfect on this!
Let’s hope, Leslie! And, I hope parents take this up with their young adult children – especially those in college coming home for the holidays.