Is it illegal...

[Maljonic]

...to drink and drive. I mean, I know you can't have more than so much alcohol; but what if all you have is one little bottle of lager and you slowly sup it?

edit: the reason I'm asking is that a few weeks ago I'd finished work at midnight and my client (no I'm not a whore)gave me a bottle of beer; I was going to a party after that and there are numerous traffic lights on the way and I thought, hmm maybe if I drink that 1st beer in the car each time I stop that'll be one beer down by the time I get there... then I thought, wait, is that legal?

 

[Pro]v[etheus]

I thought you were allowed to have X amount of units of alcohol

 

[old.D0LLySh33p]

There's a limit.

I can't remember what it is though.



I don't get drunk and drive, but I DO admit to drinking and driving, as such, whereby I know I'm over the legal limit (which is one pint?).

 

[Damini]

I think he means simultaneously. Like cruising down the motor way sipping a stella. I hope he means that...

 

[Maljonic]

sorry, I meant are you allowed to drink when you are in the car actually driving?

edit: oh, like Damini said

 

[Scouse]

No - you're not in control of your vehicle properly. Like using a mobile phone.

But I do it

 

[Tom]

If you get caught drinking beer while driving, you will almost certainly be charged with driving without due care and attention - and seriously penalised. If its just a coke, they might let it pass.

 

[Maljonic]

yes yes yes, but what if you only drink from the bottle when you're not moving? What if say, you get pulled over and you have a half empty bottle of Bud in the coffee mug tray; you'd pass the breatherliser test but are you still breaking the law?

P.S. I've edited the 1st post to clarify

 

[Tom]

So long as you're not over the legal limit, you're ok - although the police would take a very dim view. Would it really be worth the hassle?

 

[Testin da Cable]

I'd not D&D period. in fact, if I know I'm going on a long trip I don't drink the day before either.

 

[Durzel]

What is the legal limit in pint terms? I've had 2 before and driven, which I'm presuming is under the limit, and felt hyper-aware (probably a bad sign)....

 

[Testin da Cable]

bad sign indeed mate. here in holland (I know, I know) the "limit" is two glasses of beer. a dutch glass is about a third of a pint.

the official limit goes in promille (parts per thousand) of alcohol in your blood. I think it's 0.15, but I'm not sure.

 

[kameleon]

Theres no actual pint limit, as metabolism varies from person to person; i.e. a six foot seven 220 lb person is going to be less affected than a four foot two 6 stone woman.

Iirc the legal limit is 35 mg alcohol per 100ml blood

 

[Tom]

Originally posted by Durzel
What is the legal limit in pint terms? I've had 2 before and driven, which I'm presuming is under the limit, and felt hyper-aware (probably a bad sign)....

2 pints would be borderline. 1 pint is safe.

 

[nath]

Originally posted by Testin da Cable
a dutch glass is about a third of a pint.

Pff. Poofs

 

[bodhi]

You shouldn't drive whilst drinking beer tbh. Far too much chance of spillage.


Now joints and driving is a completely different matter

 

[Maljonic]

I think the legal limit is only about 1 and 1 half a pint, or 3 units; half a pint of lager is about 1 unit I think so two pints is normally over the limit. But like TDC says, I'd rather drink nothing and drive... I didn't drink the bottle, was just wondering if I could have done legally

 

[^Gil]

http://members.lycos.co.uk/ukdd/ddlaw.html

This is often reckoned to be equivalent to two pints of ordinary strength beer

When they say normal beer they mean 3% strength lager/bitter

As for drinking while the car is stationary I think there is a law about drinking with the intent to drive (could be way of the mark).

Police Powers

For the police to be able to require a breath test, a driver must have either:

(a) committed a moving traffic offence, e.g. speeding, failing to observe a stop sign, having a defective light etc.,

which happened to me (cut lanes in a roundabout at 4am) a long time ago (20 at the time never done it since,nothing worse than having 2 young smug coppers thinking they've got a collar when they haven't).

BTW don't D&D, your kebab gets cold

 

[mr.Blacky]

Originally posted by nath
Pff. Poofs

Well it goes faster that way and how much percentage is alcohol in the uk ? Holland its 5%. Tbh I hardly drink beers in pubs caus they are too little for me.

 

[dysfunction]

I think if you were caught with an open beer in the car I dont think the police would see it in a good light....even if you are stationary or not.

People have been arrested for drunk driving just cos they were sitting in their car (engine off) but blind drunk....

Its just not worth the risk!

 

[~YuckFou~]

I seem to remember a case a while back were a girl got done for driving without due care and attention. She was drinking mineral water from the bottle while sat at some red traffic lights. So drinking anything at all while in a car "can" get you done.
Legal alcohol limit as stated above is approx 1.5 pints standard beer, although this is only a rough guideline.

 

[xane]

Originally posted by ~YuckFou~
I seem to remember a case a while back were a girl got done for driving without due care and attention. She was drinking mineral water from the bottle while sat at some red traffic lights.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/774655.stm

 

[~YuckFou~]

Originally posted by xane
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/774655.stm

Thats the puppy !

 

[xane]

Originally posted by dysfunction
I think if you were caught with an open beer in the car I dont think the police would see it in a good light.

Agreed, drinking beer in the drivers seat, stationary or not, is bound to attract Mr Plod's attention. In fact they may even view it as a bit of a piss-taking and arrest you anyways, I'm sure they could find a bit of mud on your lights that gives them an excuse for hauling you in.

Same as TdC for me, no booze if I am driving at all.

 

[S-Gray]

Linda Smart, 27, refused to pay an on-the-spot £20 fine for allegedly failing to be in charge of her vehicle.

Her Volkswagen Lupo was pulled to the side of the road in Chippenham, Wiltshire, by a policeman who spotted her taking a swig from a bottle of water as she waited at a set of traffic lights, it was reported.

-

A spokesman for Wiltshire Police defended its officer's action, saying: "Our concern is for the safety of other road users.

"If a police officer feels a driver is not in charge of their vehicle while it is moving, they will be stopped and advice or a ticket will be given."

 

[kanonfodda]

There is no such thing as "drink" driving, it is driving whilst under the influence, of anything, you can be arrested for it, and charged, if you are in the vehicle, with the keys. Even if you are not intending to drive!

Driving with anything, food, drink and of course, mobile phones, can lead to prosecution.

people have been pulled over for eating a kitkat whilst driving.

Drinking a bottle of beer, whilst driving (moving or not) would be looked on in a dim light, so you better make damn sure your car is in good nick, or they could do you for having a dirty number plate :S

 

[~YuckFou~]

I've always thought that there is some irony in the mobile phone law.
It's bad for the public to talk on the phone, yet it's OK for the cops to use their radios?

 

[dysfunction]

Originally posted by ~YuckFou~
I've always thought that there is some irony in the mobile phone law.
It's bad for the public to talk on the phone, yet it's OK for the cops to use their radios?

There are usually 2 in the car....1 to drive and one to talk...isnt there?

 

[leggy]

ffs it's only 1 bottle of beer Mal . It won't make any difference if you don't drink it.

If you must have to drink it, neck it on the doorstep after ringing the bell. It will kill the time waiting for some pisshead to answer the door.

 

[kanonfodda]

Not always, sometimes only one to a car.

On the bright side of that, if there is only one in a car, they can only pull you over if you are alone

If you have people in the car with you, a single copper is not supposed to pull you, as it can lead to all sorts of nasty allegations(sp) and is unsafe for them (and you).