Drinking Age

Andy Adams asked:


With the Christmas period just behind us adverts discouraging people from drinking and driving were very visible across all media form TV to radio and newspapers. This was mainly because Christmas time unfortunately isn’t just a time of mistletoe and wine, it’s the specific time of year that people are likely to drive after having an alcoholic drink with friends and family.

Apart from the obvious and very serious life threatening risks of this practice there is also the certainty that if you are caught by the police you’ll lose your license and possibly end up in jail in severe cases. But the woes don’t stop there; people with driving convictions as serious as this can expect a nasty surprise when they get back on the road: Insanely high car insurance premiums.

If you apply for car insurance with a conviction of drink driving or driving without insurance you are removing all doubt in the insurer’s mind of how safe a driver you are, quite simply you aren’t and they are not going to take any risk with you. Premiums of convicted drivers are normally £1,000 higher than good law abiding folk.

The car insurance industry runs itself on assessing the risk of covering each individual driver; they take all sorts of factors into consideration when determining the amount you’ll pay for car insurance such as the car you’re driving, how old you are, whether you’ve had any accidents in the past.

Obviously one way to increase your risk (and your premiums) is getting points or convictions on your license, even 3 points for speeding or running a red light can stick some unnecessary pounds onto your premium. Suffice to say if you are reckless and dangerous then you can kiss cheap car insurance goodbye!



Patrick

Abbi Rouse asked:


Across the country, many British drivers are putting themselves and others at risk by driving too fast, according to Co-operative Insurance.

Indeed, research from the group has shown that nearly a fifth (19 per cent) of drivers admit to speeding once a day or more, while almost a quarter (23 per cent) said they go over the limit a few times a week. Of everybody questioned by the firm, only 27 per cent said they do not speed on Britain’s roads.

However, despite a general lackadaisical attitude toward their own flouting of the law, many motorists said that the speed at which other people drive was a cause for concern. In fact, the group claimed that around three-quarters of people admitted they worried about other people driving too fast. This, it was said, was roughly the same proportion of people who admitted to speeding themselves.

And although many people seem to view speeding to lightly when they are driving, according to the Co-operative speeding is a major problem on Britain’s roads. The latest numbers from the Department of Transport quoted by the firm indicated that in the 12 months before March this year, 244,770 people were either killed or injured as a result of car accidents, a lot of which were caused by drivers who were speeding.

In addition to the threat posed to other people, speeding motorists could find they are putting their financial security in danger as well. The punitive fines imposed on those caught speeding could well jeopardise peoples ability to meet mortgage and personal loan repayments, in addition to household bills. Also, anybody who lands themselves with a speeding conviction are likely to see an increase in their car insurance premiums.

Commenting on the problem, David Neave, director of general insurance at the Co-Operative Insurance, said: “The fast pace at which we live today means that speeding has become common place in British society. People often dont think about the dangers of driving a few miles an hour over the limit. But that can mean the difference between having a safe journey or a collision - and whether you survive or not. As with drinking and driving, driving too fast reduces reaction times, and therefore impacts on the drivers ability to deal with hazards. There needs to be a shift in peoples attitudes to speeding, so it becomes as socially unacceptable as drink driving”

The group pointed out that with new government measures coming into effect which will track driving speeds over stretches of motorway, making it difficult to avoid being caught, many drivers may soon be forced to reassess their driving habits or risk paying a heavy price. In addition to heavy fines, people may also find themselves out of a job if they are dealt a custodial sentence. In such circumstances, the ability to pay off mortgages, loans and other spending commitments may be severely hindered.

Receiving a fine for speeding may prove particularly troublesome for young males, as the AA recently pointed out that they already pay twice as much for car insurance than their female counterparts.



Gary

kocotv asked:

A vivid demonstration of what can go wrong when drivers drink before getting behind the wheel took place in northwest Oklahoma City on Monday. Eyewitness News 5’s Tyler Suiters has the details.

Frank

Karl Bantleman asked:


The number of cars on British roads is rapidly increasing and as such the chances of a road accident have increased. Many drivers do not realise by exceeding the speed limit and driving without due care, they are putting their own life as well as others in their car and other cars at severe risk.

There are about 1200 driving related deaths on British roads each year as well as a further 20000 serious injuries. This is an alarming number of incidents and one that should urge drivers to pay more attention and care on the roads.

The dangerous driving statistics are alarming but one problem seems to stick out from the rest, speeding. Drivers put their foot down when they think it’s safe but it only takes a split second or a wrong choice to result in a crash. 1 in 3 accidents are speed related with 70% of drivers breaking the speed limit when out driving. It may surprise you to know that by reducing your speed by a mere 1mph, you will reduce the chance of an accident by 5%.

A considerable amount of accidents take place on motorways. Drivers often get tired but want to reach their destination quicker or they speed to achieve the same object. All drivers are urged to take a break regularly to ensure their reactions are sharp and they can think clearly.

A third of motorway collisions are a direct result of driving to close to the next car, however, 40% of drivers still do it. Drink driving is one of the biggest killers of young people aged 17-29 and accounts for a sixth of all deaths on the road.

Around 3,000 people are killed or injured as a direct result of drink driving. If you are found drink driving, the penalty will remain on your license for 11 years and causing death by careless driving under the influence of alcohol carries a maximum jail sentence of 14 years with a minimum of 2 year driving ban.

Consider the implications of dangerous driving before you attempt anything risky on the road. Think of the hurt and pain you cause, not just to your own family, but to those who may have been involved in the same incident. Take care on the roads and drive safely.



Carlos

Kacy Carr asked:


Drink driving - What would the victim who lies on a cold mortuary slab have to say had they known at the time of their death that their murderer had no real motive for the killing other than that of being under the influence of alcohol where the drunkard had choices unlike the corpse whose last breath was taken from them through an act of unjustified folly.

How can a drink driver really believe he/she is capable of driving a vehicle after swigging ten pints of beer or a bottle of whiskey? If you are tempted to drink drive then you must listen to the friends who have your best interest at heart when they grapple to retrieve your car keys

If you are the friend of a drunken sot who is about to set out and kill them self or take the life of another then you must forcibly take the car keys away from them. It is far easier and safer to hail a taxi cab, catch a bus/train or walk home from the pub. Christmas is the time to be jolly so keep it that way by drinking in moderation or cut down on consumption of spirits with a high alcohol percentage.

Knowing the law on drink driving and imposed penalty types may have you reconsider one severe penalty that is usually inevitable in cases of drink driving and that is loss of life.

If you have been pulled up in a vehicle by a police constable he/she can request a breath test. Anyone, man or woman under the influence of booze who is caught driving, attempting to drive, or in charge of a motor vehicle on the highway or in a public place like outside your own home or even in a shopping mall car park etc, will be required by law to provide a breath test, to ascertain whether you are over the prescribed limit of alcohol - 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath (or 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood). You know what they say, don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time and if you exceed these limits then you may well be on your way to prison. Points on your drivers licence and a heavy fine are other imposed penalties for driving a vehicle while drunk, the motorist will face a driving ban (disqualification) If you are convicted of a drink driving offence then you can expect to find it extremely hard to find a car insurance company willing to insure you with out upping your annual premiums to an extortionate price. Well what do you expect after committing a crime as such?

If you have been asked to pull over and a breath test is requested then it has to be sanctioned by an officer in uniform, however a request for a roadside breath test will only happen if one of the following situations applies:

The police officer in question will have to have a reasonable cause to suspect that you have committed, or are currently committing a moving traffic offence, or if, having stopped, an officer has reasonable cause to suspect that the person driving/attempting to drive/in charge of the vehicle has consumed alcohol of more than the legal amount that law states or the police officer has reasonable cause to believe that you were the person driving/attempting to drive/in charge of a motor vehicle which was involved in an road accident. No doubt if common sense prevails none of the drink driving laws will apply. Keep safe this Christmas and go home accompanied by huskies.



ARATHORN

Austin Mark asked:


Among driving violations, impaired driving is most emphasized upon, it can also be referred to as driving under the influence, driving while intoxicated and operating while intoxicated.  Impaired driving usually results in stronger fines and penalties than normal driving violations.  Impaired driving entails that the person driving has consumed enough alcohol to impair his driving abilities and can be usually determined either by a blood-alcohol test, some other sobriety test, or just by the observation of an officer.

Drinking and driving is the most common crime committed in Canada. It is also the greatest cause of criminal injury and death. Drivers who choose to drink and drive face not only endangering themselves or someone else, but also face severe legal and other consequences

In Canada there aren’t any national laws covering all aspects of drinking and driving, instead all provincial governments have enacted their own measures against impaired driving. The Constitution of Canada defines the powers of the federal and provincial or territorial levels of government.

All provinces and territories also use their authority under their respective highway traffic laws to impose administrative sanctions and measures that apply to drivers convicted of Criminal Code drinking-driving offenses. Note that some provinces may suspend driver’s license upon an individual being charged with impaired driving, rather than being convicted.

References to Criminal Code

Under the Criminal Code of Canada, driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol is a generic term for a series of offenses.

The main offenses are laid down under section 253 (a) and (b) of the Canadian Criminal Code and include:

1. operating a motor vehicle while the ability to do so is impaired by alcohol or a drug, and

2. operating a motor vehicle while having a blood alcohol concentration of greater than 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 milliliters of blood.

Different types of Offenses

Impaired Driving causing death or bodily harm

Drinking and driving if it causes death or bodily harm and if the right circumstances exist, could lead to serious charges, such as dangerous driving, manslaughter or criminal negligence.

First offense

The minimum charge if convicted of impaired driving is a $600 fine and 1 year driving prohibition.

Second offense

The minimum charge if convicted for the second time with impaired driving is 14 days jail time and and 2 year driving prohibition.

Third or subsequent offenses

The minimum charge if convicted for the third or any subsequent offenses is 90 days jail time and 3-year driving prohibition or worse.



Juan

Sabina asked:


I think many of us have no idea what we are drinking, because the system the UK uses for measuring alcohol in beverages is slightly complicated, so I’ve put together a helpful and easy to use guide so you can drink safely & responsibly!

The alcohol content of drinks is measured in units, with one UK unit containing eight grams of pure alcohol. Now, you can’t just count each drink as one unit of alcohol unfortunately, as the number of units depends on the different strength and size of each drink, so it can vary a lot.

Know Your Units - How do I calculate what I’m drinking?

There’s a whole load of alcoholic beverages on offer; wine, fortified liquers, beer, lager, spirits, ready to drink bottles, stout etc and each drink has a different alcohol content, you can see from the examples below just how the unit content of alcholic drinks actually differ…

Small Glass of Wine - 175ml - 12% abv = 2.1 Units

 

 

 

Small Glass of Wine - 175ml - 12% abv = 2.1 Units

 

 

Can you guess how many units each of the drinks below contains?  Scroll down for the answers.



 

 

 

 

 

 

So, what’s healthy?



The UK Government advises that men should not regularly drink more than 3 to 4 units per day and women should not take in more than 2 to 3 units each day. Continuously drinking four or more units for men, and three or more for women can lead to progressive health issues, so it is best to stick to the recommended levels!

Drinking and Driving…

 

 

 

The legal drink-drive limit is 80mg per 100 millilitres of blood, but this cannot easily be translated into alcohol units as this measurement can be affected by age, weight, *** and whether food has been eaten, plus a host of other factors. It is therefore (to be safe) best not to drink and drive!

 

A little interesting fact: Your body breaks down alcohol at a rate of about one unit per hour - and nope, there’s no way you can speed this up!

They all contain one unit of alcohol. It’s surprising, don’t you think?

 

175ml x 12/1000 = 2.1 Units

Spirits - 35ml - 40% = 1.4 units

Pint of Standard Beer or Cider - 568ml - 4.1%abv = 2.3 Units

Bottle of Beer or RTD - 275ml - 5% abv = 1.4 Units

To figure out how many units your alcoholic beverage is worth, there’s a simple formula:

 



Unit = [Volume (ml) x abv]/1000





Marina Tsvetaeve

max05y asked:


If you personally make the choice that you are going to drink alcohol, whether on a regular basis or occasionally, you need to be sure that you always drink responsibly.

There are a variety of different habits that you need to get into if you are going to drink in a responsible manner. Remember that you will be held responsible for your actions, whether you were drinking or not, so it is important that you only drink in a responsible manner.

The following are a few tips that can help you with responsible drinking habits.

1. Only Drink When YOU Want To

It may be easy for you to be pressured into drinking alcohol by friends, but you should only drink whenever you feel like you want to. If you are not comfortable drinking in a certain environment, or you are just not in the mood to drink, stick to how you feel and do not let others dictate when and where you drink.

2.Know When To Stop

If you decide to drink alcohol, you need to be responsible enough to know when you need to stop drinking. If you want to test your limits, make sure you do it at home with someone you trust so you can get an idea of when you should stop before you become out of control and unaware. Many people find that drinking any more than one drink in an hour can cause problems.

3. Drink Slowly

If you are going to drink responsibly you need to be sure that you drink slowly. People get drunk quickly when they gulp down drinks and do not realize how much they are consuming. Take the time to enjoy what you are drinking and focus on the wonderful flavors instead of drinking a large quantity quickly.

4. Double Fist Your Drinks

If you are drinking an alcoholic beverage it is a great idea to have a glass of water there as well and drink the two together. Drinking the water in between sips of your alcohol can help to keep the concentration of the alcohol down in your blood stream. You are also less likely to have a hangover the next day if you keep hydrated as well.

5. Designate a Driver

If you are going out and plan on drinking, always make sure that someone is designated to drive and that they have no alcohol whatsoever. If there is no designated driver, you should be the responsible one and abstain from drinking. Remember that driving under the influence, no matter how little, can kill.

Having responsible drinking habits is very important if you are planning to consume alcohol. Being responsible while drinking can keep you healthy, keep you out of embarrassing situations, and most important of all - it can save your life.

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ARAN

LuckySeven asked:


For close to 10,000 people in the county of Norfolk, driving without car insurance is a risk they feel they have to take.

Despite the fact that being caught out will almost certainly lead to a fine and penalty points, and in a worst case scenario could even see you disqualified from driving, many drivers are happy to take to the roads without insurance because the cost of premiums is so high.

A typical car insurance premium on an average sized car could set you back as much as £400 a year – whereas a fine for driving uninsured is only likely to be in the region of £160.

Many campaign groups, such as Roadpeace, are demanding tougher sentences for those who drive uninsured. Not only are they angered by the comparative ‘slap on the wrist’ that uninsured drivers receive, but they are frustrated at the effect it has on law-abiding citizens.

With uninsured drivers far more likely to be involved in accidents, it is estimated that they add around £30-£60 each year to the bills that insured drivers pay. According to the Motor Insurance Bureau (MIB), those driving without insurance are also ten times more likely to be convicted of a drink driving offence.

Insurers are now working closely with the police to inform them when car insurance policies go out of date. If you’re not already insured and are worried about the cost, my tip is to use a car insurance comparison tool to compare quotes from dozens of insurance companies. Not only will this save you time, but comparing quotes makes it a whole lot easier to find cheap car insurance. To cut the cost of your insurance even further, you may want to consider third party, fire and theft insurance rather than a fully comprehensive policy.



Sherry

max04y asked:


There are so many people out in the world who are addicted to alcohol, and don’t know that there is a way of stopping, and that it will surely be in your best interest to do so.

How many people drink after work, until they go to bed, wake up with hangovers, go to work, and do the same thing all over again? Or, we have the weekend drinkers who refrain during the week, and get smashed on the weekends.

Usually these weekender’s proceed to make fools of themselves in front of family, friends, and neighbors. They think they’re the life of the party, but it’s more like the clown of the party.

How many purses have been lost or stolen when one doesn’t remember what they did with it? How many cars have been lost in parking lots? How many drunk driving accidents have killed, hurt, and maimed? How many people lose their family because of alcohol? They get a drunk driving ticket, lose their job, lose their house, and their family moves on without them?

It happens every day to a lot of people. Well, then, why can’t people stop drinking? The first reason is fear. They are afraid of what they are going to do without alcohol in their lives. Much like a smoker quitting cigarettes doesn’t know what they’re going to do without a cigarette in their hand.

But, although a smoker is endangering their lives, a drinker alters the way their brain thinks, and does things, and acts in ways that are inappropriate and unacceptable. A cigarette doesn’t do that to you. You don’t leave your purse in a bar because you had a cigarette. Or a pack of cigarettes.

A drinker can easily drive home on the wrong side of the road, sideswipe the garage door, and yell and scream for scrambled eggs and cheese! And then have to get up and go to work in the morning. So why not stop? Number one, it’s usually an addiction, so it’s not as easy as it sounds. Number two, without the proper guidance, it’s very hard to do alone. Number three, who wants to not only have to quit doing something they love to do, but do it in front of strangers, as in a twelve step program?

The people who want to stop behaviors and actions that occur when they are drunk, that don’t occur when they’re not! Many get nasty when they drink. If they’re drinking after work with their fellow employees, things can get pretty inappropriate.

If someone happens to let them in on their little secret habits while drunk, it can get very embarrassing, leading to even lower self esteem and self confidence. As a matter of fact, there comes a lot of guilt and shame with being a drunk, and worse, to be a blackout drunk. Then you remember nothing, and the town remembers everything! Not to mention the damage it’s doing to your liver.

The addiction is always stronger than the desire to quit. But, it can be done. I did it. I have been sober for thirteen years. I got tired of blackouts and hangovers and acting like someone I’m not when I’m without alcohol. I knew I wanted to stop, but I had no clue how. I went to a twelve step meeting in my church, and kept going everynight to different meetings, for four and a half years. If you let the seriously sober men and women help you, you can beat this addiction.

You don’t have to be afraid to go to meetings, some of the nicest people I have ever met came from inside those rooms. There is a silent camaraderie among fellow drunks, and we are more alike than different. There is a humbleness and an honesty that goes with trying to quit an addiction, and we all shared it.

It’s the only place you can get your own sponsor who will work the steps with you, and share their experiences, hopes and dreams. They are usually men and women who have been in the program for a while, and can help you with the skills they learned, and turn around and teach you.

If your drinking is out of control, and you want to stop, in my case, the meetings were the way to go. I had support, and knowledge coming in so that I could learn to change my behavior, my way of thinking, and my attitude to a more calmer, peaceful way of life. This also affected my partner and my kids. I was more easy going, and of course, I didn’t drink.

I remembered everything about the night before. I always knew where my purse was, and my car! I didn’t have to worry about getting pulled over for drunk driving. I didn’t have to be embarrassed and ashamed after a party or a family function. I was getting my house in order.

I was putting one foot in front of the other, and moving in a straight line. I was more focused, I didn’t put things off anymore, I did them and got them out of the way. I kept my word. I didn’t lie. I liked myself, and that allowed others to like me, too.

There’s nothing pretty about a fall down drunk. There’s nothing nice about a belligerent drunk. There’s nothing endearing about a blackout drunk. There’s just nothing good about drinking if you are an alcoholic, and if you are one, you probably know it, or are questioning it.

There are meetings at almost every church. You can call a twelve step hotline. You can stop the nightmare, if you set your mind to it, and follow the steps, and put them into practice in your life.

You’ll be happier because everything will be going better for you. Your bills will be paid because you won’t let them go until you’re straight one night when you’ve run out of booze and the liquor stores are closed. There will be no heavy weight on your shoulders. You can hold your head up high. The help is there, you just have to want it.

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James