Drink driving is a serious offence in the UK and most other parts of the world. Those found guilty can find themselves having to pay a fine, serve jail time, or have to undergo a driving ban if they’re classed as a high-risk offender.
What would be handy is if there was a tool that helped us avoid such convictions…
By using a drink driving calculator, you can determine how safe it is to get back on the road after consuming alcohol, reducing accidents and convictions.
Here’s what you need to know.
What is a drink driving calculator?
A drink driving calculator is a helpful tool where you can input how many units of alcohol you’ve had to decide whether drink driving is worth the risk.
How a drink driving calculator works
A drink driving calculator typically works by estimating the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) based on how many units of alcohol a person has had.
It’s important to note that BAC is unique to the individual and is heavily dependent on attributes like weight, duration in which a person was drinking, age, and more.
Drink driving calculators are an advisory tool to reduce the risk of being caught driving under the influence of alcohol, to keep you and others safe.
How to use a drink driving calculator
Drink driving calculators work differently, depending on which one you use.
The one from MAJ Law allows you to input how many drinks of each type of alcohol. From larger to alcohol, simply put how many of each you’ve had and let the calculator do the work.
It then tells you how many units this equates to and how long you should wait before getting behind the wheel.
Factors that affect BAC
Amount of alcohol consumed
The more alcohol consumed, the higher the BAC levels.
How quickly the alcohol is consumed
BAC levels rise faster, the quicker someone drinks alcohol.
Sex assigned at birth
As alcohol is water soluble, BAC is proportional to a person’s body water content. Females generally have less water in their bodies than males, meaning their BAC will be higher even if they drink the same amount in the same time frame as their male counterparts.
Weight
Similarly, the more a person weighs, the more water they have in their bodies, meaning it takes them longer to reach a BAC level that’s the same as someone who weighs less.
Fat and muscle content
Alcohol is absorbed much quicker in muscle than in fatty tissue. If someone has a high muscle percentage, their BAC levels will take longer to increase.
Metabolism
The average person will take around an hour to eliminate 10ml of alcohol. Those who drink often will have active livers that are used to flushing out the alcohol in the bloodstream at a quicker rate, meaning it takes them longer to feel the effects.
Age
Younger people tend to have quicker metabolisms, meaning they can eliminate alcohol from their system much quicker than someone older.
Avoid drink driving charges with a drink driving calculator
Using a drink driving calculator before setting off home from the pub can help you avoid a hefty fine, jail time, or a driving ban.
Use MAJ Law’s drink driving calculator to stop you from putting yourself and others in danger.
