The holidays are finally here, and although most of the holidays are made up of fun and festivities, there’s also an increased danger of drunk drivers on the roads.
One of the reasons why so many people make the choice to drink and drive is because they believe myths about drunk driving. Maybe you’ll have heard of a few of these:
Myth: Different types of drinks will have a different effect on the person drinking them
Fact: Alcohol is alcohol, and if you have a standard sized 12 ounce glass of 5% beer, a 5 ounce glass of 5% wine, or 1.5 ounces of 40% liquor, you’ll end up with the same blood alcohol concentration (BAC).
Myth: If I only drink one beverage per hour, I’ll be fine to drive.
Fact: An average sized man who weighs approximately 150 pounds can only burn off one standard drink every two hours. That means if you have several drinks spaced out over several hours, you could still be over the legal limit of .08.
Myth: Coffee will sober me up.
Fact: Coffee may wake you up, but it won’t help your body burn off the alcohol any faster.
Myth: If I hyperventilate before I blow into a breathalyzer, it will lower my BAC reading.
Fact: If you’ve been drinking, hyperventilating or holding your breath won’t give you a lower breathalyzer reading anymore than holding your breath or breathing fast will result in a pass on an ignition interlock device. It will only make you feel dizzy, and if there is an officer present, you’ll appear more drunk than you already are.
Myth: Although I was drinking all night, I can drive because I’ve slept for awhile.
Fact: If your body needs two hours to burn off a standard sized drink, it will need to work for 8 hours to burn off 4 drinks and get back to a zero blood alcohol concentration. Even if you slept during that time, you can still be over the legal limit when you wake up in the morning, so driving in the morning after a night of drinking isn’t a good idea.
If you want to stay safe this holiday season and avoid a driving under the influence (DUI) charge and penalties like an ignition interlock, don’t drive after drinking. There are many designated driver programs available all year, so choose a sober driver and get home safe.