What will a DVLA Blood Check show?

Question

10 years ago I was banned for drink driving in the uk. I'm sorry to say that it was the third time and my ban was for 3 years.

I have changed my ways. I have been driving abroad but now need to get a UK license back. I do not drink and drive at all now but I do still drink perhaps more than is good for me. I enjoy wine and beer although have recently passed a stringent BUPA medical (for a new job) and no mention was made that I might drink too much.
My DVLA doctors appointment is in one month's time. Do I need to stop drinking completely? What does the blood test show. I read somewhere that this test can tell if you have "abused" alcohol at all in the past year.
To be clear...I NEVER drink and drive but probably drink the equivalent of a bottle of wine /night..ie sometimes no wine but beer...sometimes a lot of beer. I can cut down, I dont have a drink problem, I have a good job but work away from home without much to do at night.

Answer 1

When you say that you never drink and drive, do you drive the morning after consuming such large amounts of alcohol? That is drinking and driving, as the alcohol is still in your system. With the amount that you say you consume in a night, this would probably put you over the limit for driving for some considerable amount of time into the next day. Which would mean another ban if you were caught.
As for the blood test, it will show the level of alcohol in your blood at the time of the test.
You say that you don't think you have a problem. If that is the case then you need to cut down with a view to stopping. If it means your job, your livelihood, or someones (possibly your own)life is saved it has to be worth doing?

Answer 2

Dvla Blood Test

Answer 3

If you get caught twice in ten years or above 87.5mcg alcohol/100 ml you have do a medical to get your license back, because they think you have an alcohol problem.

Apparently a DVLA medical can show how much you've had to drink in the last month. They will also assess other things like eyesight reactions etc. They will also ask you a lot of probing questions about your current drinking habits.

If however you are the holder of a class C or D licence (for a bus or a lorry driver) you have to stand before a tribunal to get your licence back. This is a tribunal of largely ordinary people but there will be a doctor and you will have to convince them that you're still safe with 44 ton of metal and goods on the road. Most fail, but if you pass the medical they should still let you have your car licence back.

Answer 4

A bottle of wine a night will make you over the limit even the next morning, you may not feel intoxicated but the alcohol builds up in the blood stream, especially if you dink that much each day. Try to stop drinking altogether, you may well have to if you want your licence back. A person with so much alcohol in their body ,is a walking time-bomb, you are just waiting for an accident to happen, someone may be killed and you will go to jail for a long time. Stop drinking now, do yourself a favour.

Answer 5

Firstly if you are drinking an average of a bottle a night you DO have a problem.
Second if you are drinking as much as a bottle in an evening you will be well over the limit the next day, until at least lunchtime.
Thirdly if you want to pass the test give it at least 48 hours, these test do not only check for booze they now also check for the metabolites of drink.
Last seek help before it's too late.

P.S. I work in the Pharma industry and work with alcohol dependant subjects all the time, most if not all of them deny they have a problem; they are kidding themselves, and nobody else.

Answer 6

The answer to your question is that it will show alcohol in your blood "IF" you still have alcohol in your blood but it won't show it if you don't.

A guy I know was recently ordered to have a medical exam by DVLA before they would give him his licence back and prior to being allowed to take the Extended Driving Test. He totally gave up drinking for a fortnight just before he had to report for his medical and his blood test "showed" he was now alcohol free, even though he had been drinking heavily about 3 or 4 weeks before the blood test.

Only then after receiving the medical report on him from their Doctor including details of his blood and urine test did DVLA agree to give him a Provisional Licence again. This guy does now drink again, but he does not "drink and drive".