how much can you legally drink and drive?

Answer 1

It depends on where you live and what their guidelines are. How you handle what you drink is an entirely different matter.

Answer 2

Well, the legal limit for a breath tests is 35mcg/l.

But this doesn't equate in any neat way to knowing how much you can drink and be under the limit - there isn't a magic formula which will tell you what your breath reading will be for each unit of alcohol you consume.

Anything more than 5 units ( which works out at 2 1/2 pints of ordinary strength beer, less than 2 pints of Stella, less than 2 large glasses of white wine, or 5 single shots of spirits) and you will definitely be over. Less if you are female. Less if you have liver problems or are taking antibiotics.

In other words, sorry to be so boring, but the only way you can be 100% sure you're not going to be over the limit is not to drink at all before driving. In addition, if your breath reading is below 35mg/l but you are still plainly too tipsy to drive safely, you can be prosecuted anyway, it'll just go down as Driving Unfit, not Excess Alcohol.

Answer 3

Regardless of the local law, what you can actually drink and still be legally sober varies by your age, body type, what you've eaten recently, what type of drink you have had, and how much sleep you've had recently. It can also vary depending on prescription medication you are taking.

In other words, although some will say 'one beer' or 'one glass of wine' the fact is you could end up over the limit even on those small amounts depending on the other factors listed earlier.

If you want to be completely sure you are OK to drive, don't drink anything. If you want to drink, make sure you have a designated driver for the evening, or use public transport or a taxi.

Answer 4

The true answer is nothing. This is because we are all different-weight, build etc. Its all to do with how much alcohol is in your blood but this can vary every time you drink. You know how some nights you can drink loads and still feel 'able' to drive (not that you ever would). Then one lunch time 1/4 pint and theres no way you could drive-'gone straight to your head'. It's how you are 'on that day'. All to do with being tired, what you have or haven't eaten....so the police will say if you ask how much is legal-'nothing' and that is the only way you will get a safe clear breath test pass.

Answer 5

You can't tell. It all depends on your metabolism, if your used to drinking or not, if you've eaten, even if your big or small. Its all about how your body deals with alcohol. So don't do it at all. I know it's irresponsible to say , but I miss those summers long ago now, when you could sit outside a pub in the countryside drinking with your friends then drive home. I know, I know. Don't have a go at me.

Answer 6

The general standard is .08. That is like 1 bottle of beer, 1 small glass of wine or 1oz of hard liquor per hour. But this depends on body weight and metabolism. Best bet is just not to drink and drive.

Answer 7

none at all unless you want to go to jail

here in usa if you drink just one drink in you are pulled over by the cops in the give you a breathe test in it is over .08 you are dwi are dui either way your linences will be suppened in thats it yeah over there in england you drink that much in get in your car you are going to do 2 things hit some one are crash god people you can not drink in drive i dont care were you live here in the usa are the uk use you heads please that is why people every year die because some one got drink to much we see every year here in the usa peiople dyeing all the time the age is from 14 to 65 death tolls rise every years then when some one kills somebody it is all ways the other person fult in not yours >>>>nexts time you go to a bar are pub like you english call it think to your selfs every body if i drink to day am i going to crash are kill some one are some body people you do have some brains dont you if so use them darn things your brains are there for you to use some common sense if you dont than you never will

Answer 8

It depends on the state in which you live. In some states your blood alcohol must be below .08 and in others .10. I suggest that you not drink ANYTHING and drive. If you must drink, wait one full hour FOR EACH DRINK, after you have consumed the last drink. Yes, that means that if you have 3 beers, you should wait 3 hours AFTER you finish the last of them before you should drive. Also, please note that a 200 lb. man cannot pass a breathalyzer after having 1 beer in a state that requires your blood alcohol to be below .08. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS TOLERANCE. Although you think your body can tolerate more alcohol than someone else, what has really happened is that you have desensitized yourself to the presence of alcohol in your system. It STILL affects you the same way it affects anyone else.
If you have further questions about alcohol and its interaction with the body, go see your physician.

Answer 9

Little enough so as not to detrementally affect your driving.
The UK driving limit is 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood.

http://www.bupa.co.uk/health_information/html/healthy_living/lifestyle/alcohol/alcohol2.html

You're still stuffed if you have an accident even while you are under the limit, particularly if the other driver is stone-cold sober.

http://www.80mg.org.uk/ddlaw.html

"It is also possible to be charged with driving or attempting to drive under the influence of drink or drugs even with a BAC level is below 80 mg. Such cases are rare but not unknown. In addition, a BAC level not far below 80 mg is likely to be regarded by the courts as an aggravating factor if charges are brought for causing an accident."

Answer 10

The fact that you're asking this question is in itself an answer...don't drink and drive.