How do I know when it's safe to drive after drinking?

[CylonGlitch]

Ok, it's Tuesday... should be safe to drive now.

 

[rdowns]

Click for larger image.

 

[iBlue]

Click for larger image.

Wow, is that Uganda in there with that big drinking habit? Not sure why but I'm surprised to see that.

 

[-hh]

Wow, a whole bunch of light weights in this thread. I know I have had more than that after a night of partying, back in college. Especially on a hot summer day when starting at 2 or 3 in the afternoon and continuing until the wee hours of the morning.

Same here, but in hindsight, there's always 'amazing stories' of physical self-abuse that we could do back when we were young, strong and bulletproof. For example, I can recall being up (with no assistance of drugs) for 60+ hours straight with only one 2 hour nap (at hours 46-47).

Anyways assuming you drank steadily and it was 80 proof Vodka. You took in 13.5 shots. And assuming your body processes alcohol at the average rate of one drink per hour. Then 13.5 hours from the time you started drinking you should have zero BAC. So 12.5 to 9.5 hours to be under 0.08 depending on body weight.

Unfortunately, the simple rules of thumb aren't really this linear. Since alcohol is a sedative, it slows the body's metabolism and consequently, the rate at which it can metabolize off alcohol slows too...and then as the BAC rises due to this slowing, the metabolism is slowed even further...the result is a positive feedback loop (bad) where the BAC lingers for many more hours than would have otherwise been expected.

Though you may want to wait longer to be more rested and sure you won't need to stop a purge while driving.

Plus it also depends on (a) one's individual performance tolerance, and (b) the legal jurisdiction that one is in.

For example, in some countries, the BAC limit is 0.00 (yes, ZERO), and the local residents don't risk driving for 8+ hours even after having but a single drink.

All joking aside. In the future you should plan with friends to hire a cab. It is pretty cheap with four payers. I myself will not drive if I have drank at all.

Agreed; the downside risk simply isn't worth it...and that ignores the risks from Law Enforcement DWI checkpoints, etc.

My rule is if I have to question whether or not I can drive I probably shouldn't.

If I've even merely had to question whether or not I can drive ... within the past 6 hours ... then the rule is that I don't drive. The reason for this rule refinement is that the worst time to drive is after you've drank past your limit for good judgement, for that's when you're three sheets to the wind obliterated, and the most dangerous.

I'm alive lol!

And that's all you can remember from all that time & money spent?
Better luck next time.


-hh