Drinking Alcohol

[alcam]

There is zero tolerance.
If you are over the limit, you are banned for at least six months, probably more, fined, your insurance goes through the roof, and you won’t be able to hire a car for five years.

If you mean there should be zero alcohol in your body before driving, that’s completely impractical.
Your body naturally produces a small amount of alcohol through the digestive process, and some food stuffs contain small amounts of alcohol.

I agree that the limit set in Scotland should be the limit but for the whole of the uk not only Scotland.

Same limit as France I think ?

 

[Fisherman]

Same limit as France I think ?

Yes the Scottish government decided to use the same figures as most European countries.
And they are substantially lower than south of the border, roughly 40% lower.

Many from England and Wales either are ignorant of this, or simply forget and find themselves being prosecuted for levels of alcohol that would be fine south of the border.

I just feel that this is a small island and it would have been better if this had been done uk wide.
I am in favour of the lower limit though, I think it strikes a good balance.

 

[REC]

The most we regularly drink at home or in the van is one glass of wine or one can of beer with dinner. If wilding somewhere new, one of us ( usually me!) doesn't have alcohol. I have been accused of being "well oiled", when haven't had any at all, daft at the best of times. Also I prefer driving in the mornings and Dave takes over later so we have a "perfect partnership".

 

[caledonia]

Yes the Scottish government decided to use the same figures as most European countries.
And they are substantially lower than south of the border, roughly 40% lower.

Many from England and Wales either are ignorant of this, or simply forget and find themselves being prosecuted for levels of alcohol that would be fine south of the border.

I just feel that this is a small island and it would have been better if this had been done uk wide.
I am in favour of the lower limit though, I think it strikes a good balance.

In your earlier post you state we are in a ludicrous position up here but this post you say it strikes a good balance?
The law allows you to have say for example 1 pint of beer and you can legally drive your vehicle but if you use for example cannabis at the weekend you can’t drive your vehicle for around a month as it’s still traceable in a road side drug test. IMO that’s ludicrous!

 

[Fisherman]

In your earlier post you state we are in a ludicrous position up here but this post you say it strikes a good balance?
The law allows you to have say for example 1 pint of beer and you can legally drive your vehicle but if you use for example cannabis at the weekend you can’t drive your vehicle for around a month as it’s still traceable in a road side drug test. IMO that’s ludicrous!

You know Caledonia, if you are going to quote me on here, at least do me the favour of not deliberately misquoting me.

I reckon that the level allowed by the Scottish government strikes a good balance, buts it ludicrous that a small Island like this has different levels.
I would have preferred that the levels applied were for the whole of the UK, not just Scotland.

There has to be an agreed limit, no alcohol is not feasible.
I see nothing wrong in having a glass or two of wine, (2-4 units of alcohol) then going to bed and driving the next morning.
A healthy liver will eradicate one unit of alcohol an hour after consumption, meaning your levels should be very low next morning.

I am aware of the anomaly regarding cannabis, but I don't know if its possible to measure content in the bloodstream.
If it is then the same should apply to cannabis.
But possibly this has more to do with cannabis being illegal here, I don't know.

 

[wildebus]

I don't really know anything about drug testing but I am not too sure there is an absolute zero limit to pass a test?

I say this as strong drugs are used for chronic pain relief and traces would be in the blood stream always I would imagine. I know someone who has a driving licence (AND has declared his medical condition to DVLA) - and has constant Morphine treatment (via patches I believe) for relief. And I am sure Morphine would be a drug that is tested for same as Heroine (as near enough the same thing)?

 

[caledonia]

Some don't read the whole thread, nothing wrong with reinforcing this message.
Many from outside Scotland either don't know, or forget about the ludicrous position we have up here.
Recent figures show that one in five who are prosecuted for drink driving in Scotland, don't live here.

Sorry to upset you but I didn’t misquote. Read your post!

 

[Channa]

Certainly compared to the 80 s and before drink driving is certainly seen as a scourge and the vast majority of people seem to behave and tow the line albeit I can see how the differences between Scotland and England could catch people out.

My concern is the younger drivers alcohol doesn't seem to be part of their social life but do seem more fond of the wacky backy and stronger, Enforcement does seem in its infancy and where alcohol was 30 years ago

Slightly OT but driver fatigue is another big influencer re road incidents, Trucks on tacho (still long hours) but has spawned a raft of white van men working round the clock

Channa

 

[alcam]

Sorry to upset you but I didn’t misquote. Read your post!

It did read that way which I did find puzzling . Apparently not what was meant .
Slightly off topic , I bought some hand made chocolates at tebay services yesterday . Orange slices and cherry liqueurs . Scoffed the lot , only afterwards thinking I maybe over indulged ?

 

[Fisherman]

albeit I can see how the differences between Scotland and England could catch people out.



Channa

Thank you Channa, it's good to see that some have the intelligence to read posts properly, and are not interested in scoring petty points on here.


Yes due to the fact that our small island has different drink driving limits someone travelling from England, Wales or Northern Ireland can and have been caught out.

Yes I agree with the lower limit, but not only for Scotland, and if Caledonia can't or won't figure figure that one out, that's Caledoinia's problem.

It would have been better if the whole of the UK had lowered the limit.

 

[caledonia]

Please don’t resort to insulting my intelligence. I simply stated in one post you say the law in Scotland is ludicrous to be different from England and Wales and in another post you say you agree with Scotland having set a lower limit. YOU seem to have a problem making your point not me.

 

[GeoffL]

On the subject of different regimes, in Norway (and possibly elsewhere in Scandinavia) the limit applies for some time after you've finished driving (three or four hours IIRC); and the limit is really low (even lower than Scotland). So you might commit an offence if you drive to a campsite, park up and have a drink within a few hours of arrival.

 

[wildebus]

On the subject of different regimes, in Norway (and possibly elsewhere in Scandinavia) the limit applies for some time after you've finished driving (three or four hours IIRC); and the limit is really low (even lower than Scotland). So you might commit an offence if you drive to a campsite, park up and have a drink within a few hours of arrival.

I presume that is to get around a situation where a driver is over the limit, thinks they have been spotted, and soon as he get home (or away from his vehicle even) has (or just claims to) have a drink to say it was the post-driving alcohol took him over a limit.
I can see a reason why that rule is in place on the law-enforcement side, but not sure on a civil liberties side if that is at all fair? especially if it is for 3-4 hours afterwards.

 

[jagmanx]

Interesting thread

I like a beer or many
BUT only in the early evening...
Thus I believe I am fit to drive the next day !

I understand the various concerns but has anyone been either unlucky or careless enough to be prosecuted ?

I feel a survey coming on but my last survey was not productive so not for now..
Perhaps if Admin did a survey it would get a better response

 

[caledonia]

I presume that is to get around a situation where a driver is over the limit, thinks they have been spotted, and soon as he get home (or away from his vehicle even) has (or just claims to) have a drink to say it was the post-driving alcohol took him over a limit.
I can see a reason why that rule is in place on the law-enforcement side, but not sure on a civil liberties side if that is at all fair? especially if it is for 3-4 hours afterwards.

Paolo Nutini recently escaped prosecution by using this excuse. Hip flask defence is the term used.

 

[alcam]

You know Caledonia, if you are going to quote me on here, at least do me the favour of not deliberately misquoting me.

I reckon that the level allowed by the Scottish government strikes a good balance, buts it ludicrous that a small Island like this has different levels.
I would have preferred that the levels applied were for the whole of the UK, not just Scotland.

There has to be an agreed limit, no alcohol is not feasible.
I see nothing wrong in having a glass or two of wine, (2-4 units of alcohol) then going to bed and driving the next morning.
A healthy liver will eradicate one unit of alcohol an hour after consumption, meaning your levels should be very low next morning.

I am aware of the anomaly regarding cannabis, but I don't know if its possible to measure content in the bloodstream.
If it is then the same should apply to cannabis.
But possibly this has more to do with cannabis being illegal here, I don't know.

To be fair what you actually posted was ; Many from outside Scotland either don't know, or forget about the ludicrous position we have up here
Easy to see why your previous post was misunderstood

 

[barryd]

I like a beer or many
BUT only in the early evening...
Thus I believe I am fit to drive the next day !

I understand the various concerns but has anyone been either unlucky or careless enough to be prosecuted ?

I feel a survey coming on but my last survey was not productive so not for now..
Perhaps if Admin did a survey it would get a better response

Yes I have. In the 90s, my first company car. Went camping in the lake disrict. Had a few to drink and the next morning decided to go for an early morning walk around the lake. Driving back, came round a bend to meet another car going too fast in the middle of the road. Swerved to avoid a head on and ended up upside down in a tree. Wasnt really hurt but when the Rozzers turned up they breathalysed me in the back of the ambulance and I was over, just. Arrested, carted off to Workington Police station where I was still just over the limit. I even had a witness in court testify that the accident (The other bloke was never traced) was not my fault. Still got banned. I think back then nobody really thought about the morning after. You just assumed as it was the next day you would be fine.

 

[Fisherman]

Yes I have. In the 90s, my first company car. Went camping in the lake disrict. Had a few to drink and the next morning decided to go for an early morning walk around the lake. Driving back, came round a bend to meet another car going too fast in the middle of the road. Swerved to avoid a head on and ended up upside down in a tree. Wasnt really hurt but when the Rozzers turned up they breathalysed me in the back of the ambulance and I was over, just. Arrested, carted off to Workington Police station where I was still just over the limit. I even had a witness in court testify that the accident (The other bloke was never traced) was not my fault. Still got banned. I think back then nobody really thought about the morning after. You just assumed as it was the next day you would be fine.

You must have been raging Barry, yes you made a mistake, and you took your punishment.
Even if they had got the car driver who was in the middle of the road you would have still been in hot water.

My mate got done driving to his work next morning.
He got a years ban, and was right royally shafted by the insurers for years after.
Also he had just bought a new car and had to sell it at a great loss.
He also had to pay a neighbour to drive him about for his business appointments.
He’s tee total now, does not touch the stuff.

 

[barryd]

You must have been raging Barry, yes you made a mistake, and you took your punishment.
Even if they had got the car driver who was in the middle of the road you would have still been in hot water.

My mate got done driving to his work next morning.
He got a years ban, and was right royally shafted by the insurers for years after.
Also he had just bought a new car and had to sell it at a great loss.
He also had to pay a neighbour to drive him about for his business appointments.
He’s tee total now, does not touch the stuff.

Yeah there was no getting out of it. Cumbria are notorious for throwing the book at you especially tourists who think they can get away with it in remote back roads in the lake district. Magistrates just weren't interested. Company were ok about it though even though after three days of having my first company car it ended upside down in a tree with me on a DD charge. Well they had to be as one of our directors had just been banned for the same. I had just taken on a roll where I had to go all over the country rolling out software, hence the car but I just went everywhere on the train and cabs. Brilliant! I loved it. Ever since though Ive been paranoid about the day after hence never really driving the next day if I have a skinful.

 

[Fisherman]

Yeah there was no getting out of it. Cumbria are notorious for throwing the book at you especially tourists who think they can get away with it in remote back roads in the lake district. Magistrates just weren't interested. Company were ok about it though even though after three days of having my first company car it ended upside down in a tree with me on a DD charge. Well they had to be as one of our directors had just been banned for the same. I had just taken on a roll where I had to go all over the country rolling out software, hence the car but I just went everywhere on the train and cabs. Brilliant! I loved it. Ever since though Ive been paranoid about the day after hence never really driving the next day if I have a skinful.

I understand your concern Barry up here many who used to have a drink or two then drive next morning have stopped doing so because of the lower limit. Also I used to have a glass of wine with a meal then drive, but no longer.

I have some sympathy for someone driving up here either forgetting or simply not knowing about our limit.
But the law is the law and it’s there for all our safety.
But as channa said, things are nowhere nearly as bad as they were in the 80s.
Then it was macho to drink and drive over the limit, now it’s frowned upon.