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AUTO BILD INDIA explains why you shouldn't drink and drive
We all know that alcohol and driving do not mix. And once under its influence, we should not drive as it is a criminal offence, punishable by fine or imprisonment or both in most states. And the way authorities decide whether you're under influence is by measuring the blood alcohol content (BAC). Having said that, most states also understand your desire for a party time and have permissible limits for BAC levels. For instance, the limit in Delhi and Mumbai is 30mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, detected by a breathalyser.
But what exactly does 30mg/100ml translate to? Well, roughly, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 30mg would be equivalent to 1 standard 30ml peg of spirit or a 100ml glass of wine or one glass of beer. So, as a rule of thumb, if you've had more than what we just described steer clear of the steering wheel.
Why, you ask. Well, honestly at 30mg/100ml you're not really drunk, but you're on your way there. Studies indicate that when BAC is at 50mg/100ml in most cases the person shows mild impairment in judgement, among other symptoms. At 100mg the person is likely to lose fine motor skills (like writing) and his speech will be slurredie drunk.
While these figures are indicative, the effects could worsen further if you're guzzling on an empty stomach or are underweight. Even mixing your spirit with carbonated drinks like soda (something we often do) can raise BAC level and make it harder for your liver to process the alcohol in the blood. So, if we are to discuss the relation between drinking and driving, the equation just keeps getting more and more complex as more and more factors start contributing to keeping us away from becoming sober, and hence safer as drivers, for longer (see recovery chart). The best thing to do therefore is to hire a cab.So, instead, let's drink to that!
