Why alcohol and driving do not mix
Alcohol distorts a person’s judgement and perceptions, as well as slows down reaction times.
You can try and debate it now, you can explain how well you handle your alcohol and you can also say you know what you are doing… none of this will matter when either you or someone else dies.
The general rule of thumb is a maximum of one unit of alcohol per hour.
However, to be safer, if you are going to be driving, rather refrain from drinking any alcohol.
Alcohol distorts a person’s judgement and perceptions, as well as slows down reaction times.
Mild to moderate intoxication can impact on a person in a number of ways.
It could lead to mild incoordination, nystagmus (fast involuntary movements of the eyes), ataxia (loss of full control of body movements) and slurred speech.
A higher level of intoxication may lead to coma, respiratory depression and a drop in blood pressure.
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Loud aggressive behaviour with the loss of inhibition may also occur as a result of alcohol consumption.
On average, it takes about one hour for the body to metabolise one unit of alcohol. However, this can vary based on body weight, sex, age, personal metabolic rate, recent food intake, the type and strength of the alcohol and medication taken.
How do you calculate how many units of alcohol you have consumed?
Multiply the volume of the drink (in millilitres) by its percentage alcohol by volume and divide by 1 000 to determine the number of units of alcohol in the drink you had.
For example:
• 350ml of beer at five per cent volume would be calculated 350 x 5/1000 = 1.75 units.
• 750ml of wine at 12 per cent volume would be calculated 750 x 12/1000 = 9.0 units.
• Information courtesy of ER24.
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Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor) germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za, Leigh Hodgson (News Editor) leighh@caxton.co.za or Busi Vilakazi (Journalist) busiv@caxton.co.za
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