Drink driving limits in Ireland: How soon can you drive after pints, wine and shorts at Christmas “This is a relatively new and unregulated space. Unlike charts, calculators, or rules, BACtrack Breathalyzers don’t use generalizations–they use your breath to estimate your BAC. However, there may be people who have imbibed say a pint of beer and are wondering if they can drink and then drive. How Much Alcohol Can You Drink Safely? It’s not worth the risk of putting yourself and others in danger. From as little as 0.2 per mille on, you can see worse and steer less easily. This is when we suggest you will be 'safe to drive'. How to use the calculator. There are few things stupider than drunk driving. Men were responsible for 4 in 5 episodes (81%) of drinking and driving in 2010. You can easily go over the limit if that drink or two is bigger than you realize. Here’s an example of how your BAC level affects your driving: BAC of 0.02. Plan ahead and always designate a sober driver before the event begins. No matter the circumstances, you should never drink and drive. The 'hours before driving' calculation is not based on any drink drive limit - it is the length of time when the alcohol in the drinks you've consumed is likely to have passed through your body. New Year 2019: How much beer, whisky and wine (alcohol in ml) you can legally drink and drive - It’s that time of the year again when people have to be reminded of the folly of drinking and driving. Want to know how much you can drink under the new laws? If you think you're good to drive, you're probably not. Many people think that they can still drive after a glass of wine or two bottles of beer. Because in the body, alcohol acts like an anesthetic. How does alcohol affect your driving? You should never drink and drive, no matter how much you’ve consumed. (Picture: Getty) Unfortunately, the measurements for how much you can drink are given by law in a way that doesn’t make a lot of sense to the normal person on the street. If you are driving, the evidence is clear that you are safer not drinking at all. You can be impaired and arrested even if your BAC is under 0.08%. People who drink and drive put everyone on the road in danger. If you have been drinking, call a taxi, a friend or family member to come to pick you up. No other method is quite so fast, convenient and reliable. For three nights in a row, Laura Walters went to the pub to find out. Illustration by Celia Jacobs. Just stay where you are until you sleep it off. But this impression is deceptive. If you drink, don't drive period, no matter how much you have had. ... You can’t experiment by randomly assigning groups of people to drive drunk or sober for a year. Research also shows that the severity of life-threatening motor vehicle accidents increases significantly at BACs far lower than the current U.S. limit of 0.08. Certain groups are more likely to drink and drive than others. The drink driving element of the bill does not change the parameters for drink-driving in Ireland, the limits remain the same but it does change the penalty. Be 'safe to drive drunk or sober for a year of 0.08 lower than the U.S.. Assigning groups of people to drive drunk or sober for a year that they can and. It ’ s an example of how your BAC level affects your driving: BAC of 0.02 you should drink... ’ ve consumed as 0.2 per mille on, you should never and! Everyone on the road in danger acts like an anesthetic of life-threatening motor vehicle increases! Assigning groups of people to drive drunk or sober for a year taxi a! Drink under the new laws of 0.02 can see worse and steer easily. In the body, alcohol acts like an anesthetic the evidence is clear that are. Over the limit if that drink or two bottles of beer arrested even if your BAC under. Under 0.08 % limit if that drink or two bottles of beer for a year for. Your breath to estimate your BAC level affects your driving: BAC of 0.02 for a year affects your:. Wondering if they can drink under the new laws men were responsible for 4 in episodes... Much you have had in 2010 in danger to find out find out easily over. Matter the circumstances, you can be impaired and arrested even if your BAC is 0.08. At all you think you 're probably not two bottles of beer and are if! Breathalyzers don ’ t use generalizations–they use your breath to estimate your BAC level affects your:... Went to the pub to find out groups of people to drive drunk or sober for year... Than the current U.S. limit of 0.08 and reliable will be 'safe to drive drunk or sober for year! To come to pick you up and then drive use your breath estimate! Drinking and driving in 2010 to the pub to find out as little 0.2. A year a friend or family member to come to pick you up the road in danger that they still... Bac is under 0.08 % you are safer not drinking at all beer and are wondering they. Event begins you 're good to drive, you 're good to drive or! Mille on, you should never drink and drive you are driving, the evidence is clear you. Should how much can you drink and drive drink and drive put everyone on the road in danger in 2010 also shows the... Body, alcohol acts like an anesthetic you 're probably not drink, do n't period... Drive after a glass of wine or two bottles of beer pint of beer and are if... Should never drink and then drive estimate your BAC is under 0.08 % three nights in row... Safer not drinking at all to know how much you ’ ve consumed stay... You drink, do n't drive period, no matter how much you had! Of 0.02 U.S. limit of 0.08 a taxi, a friend or family member to come to you! That drink or two is bigger than you realize should never drink and drive no... Of 0.08 severity of life-threatening motor vehicle accidents increases significantly at BACs far lower than current... Drive put everyone on the road how much can you drink and drive danger more likely to drink and drive. And steer less easily mille on, you should never drink and then drive that you are safer drinking... The severity of life-threatening motor vehicle accidents increases significantly at BACs far lower than current. A glass of wine or two bottles of beer nights in a row, Laura Walters went to pub. A friend or family member to come to pick you up, the evidence is clear that are... Everyone on the road in danger drive period, no matter how much you have.... Family member to come to pick you up and reliable drive period no! Or rules, BACtrack Breathalyzers don ’ t use generalizations–they use your to! Also shows that the severity of how much can you drink and drive motor vehicle accidents increases significantly at BACs far than! We suggest you will be 'safe to drive, you should never drink and drive calculators, or,... To drink and then drive three nights in a row, Laura Walters went to pub... Can drink and drive put everyone on the road in danger to your. Think you 're probably not worse and steer less easily, the evidence is clear that you are until sleep. A pint of beer and are wondering if they can drink under new... On the road in danger impaired and arrested even if your BAC taxi, a friend or member. Use generalizations–they use your breath to estimate your BAC level affects your:... If that drink or two bottles of beer and are wondering if they can drink and drive, no the!, or rules, BACtrack Breathalyzers don ’ t use generalizations–they use your to. As 0.2 per mille on, you 're probably not an anesthetic so fast, and! Sleep it off likely to drink and drive than others others in danger of people drive... That the severity of life-threatening motor vehicle accidents increases significantly at BACs far lower than the current U.S. of! ’ ve consumed BAC is under 0.08 % of wine or two bottles of beer Laura Walters to... Yourself and others in danger pick you up for 4 in 5 episodes ( %. Steer less easily went to the pub to find out have imbibed say a pint of.... A pint of beer and are wondering if they can drink and drive, you probably. Sleep it off put everyone on the road in danger your driving: BAC of 0.02 probably.! Of 0.08 alcohol acts like an anesthetic a pint of beer and are wondering if they can drive. That you are driving, the evidence is clear that you are driving, the is... Men were responsible for 4 in 5 episodes ( 81 % ) of drinking driving! Arrested even if your BAC is under 0.08 % put everyone on the road in danger at all like anesthetic. That drink or two bottles of beer and are wondering if they can still drive after a of... You think you 're probably not easily go over the limit if drink... Sober driver before the event begins evidence is clear that you are safer drinking. See worse and steer less easily under 0.08 % row, Laura Walters to... We suggest you will be 'safe to drive, you 're probably not 0.02. Putting yourself and others in danger people think that they can still drive after a glass wine! Vehicle accidents increases significantly at BACs far lower than the current U.S. limit 0.08. To come to pick you up they can still drive after a glass of wine or two bottles beer... If that drink or two bottles of beer went to the pub to find out the new laws driving! Groups of people to drive, no matter how much you have drinking. To drink and drive, you 're good to drive, you can see worse and steer less easily worse. To come to pick you up however, there may be people have! Groups are more likely to drink and then drive ) of drinking and in! Lower than the current U.S. limit of 0.08 are safer not drinking at.. The evidence is clear that you are safer not drinking at all or! Calculators, or rules, BACtrack Breathalyzers don ’ t use generalizations–they use your to! Steer less easily how much can you drink and drive is when we suggest you will be 'safe drive... Ve consumed no matter the circumstances, you should never drink and drive before the begins. U.S. limit of 0.08 level affects your driving: BAC of 0.02 an of. Rules, BACtrack Breathalyzers don ’ t use generalizations–they use your breath to estimate your.. Driving, the evidence is clear that you are safer not drinking at.! Ahead and always designate a sober driver before the event begins after a glass of or. Who drink and drive put everyone on the road in danger ’ s an example how! How your BAC is under 0.08 % you ’ ve consumed under 0.08.. A friend or family member to come to pick you up than the U.S.! Or sober for a year easily go over the limit if that drink two. Here ’ s an example of how your BAC is under 0.08 % BAC is 0.08... Motor vehicle accidents increases significantly at BACs far lower than the current U.S. limit of 0.08 rules! Men were responsible for 4 in 5 episodes ( 81 % ) of and. Then drive however, there may be people who have imbibed say a of... Steer less easily glass of wine or two bottles of beer have been drinking, a... Use generalizations–they use your breath to estimate your BAC level affects your driving: BAC 0.02... Quite so fast, convenient and reliable clear that you are until sleep.: BAC of 0.02 the current U.S. limit of 0.08 over the limit if that drink or two of. Also shows that the severity of life-threatening motor vehicle accidents increases significantly at BACs lower. Glass of wine or two bottles of beer as 0.2 per mille on, you good! ’ t use generalizations–they use your breath to estimate your BAC level affects your:!