After months of debate, planning and proposals, the new lower drink drive limit has finally been launched in Scotland.
As of one minute past midnight, motorists must not have more than 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood when behind the wheel, a drastic drop from the existing 80mg limit.
We all know the dangers of drink driving and the devastating it can have, but do you really know how much alcohol it takes for you to go over the limit – and how long it takes to return to normal the next day?
With the authorities more intent than ever on clamping down on those who disobey the law, it is more important than ever to know your limits.
With that in mind, Press and Journal reporters, Ashleigh Barbour and Andrew Clark, took on the ultimate experiment – going for a night out on the town, finding out how long it took to get over the new limit and just what happens the next day…
Ashleigh Barbour
“When it comes to alcohol, it doesn’t take much for it to take effect on me.
“I’ve always put it down to being small and female, and only splurging on a good night out.
“But I was firmly of the belief that one bottle of cider – my usual tipple – would not be enough to take me over the limit.
“Surely a sugary concoction that tastes more like juice would never be enough to numb my senses?
“How wrong I was.
“During an experimental night out in preparation for the new drive-drive limit coming into effect, I was stunned to discover that just one bottle of the liquor – containing two units – was enough to send my alcohol level soaring.
“I felt absolutely fine, but my blood level was telling me something different.
“I continued to drink throughout the night to find out how long it would take my body to return to normal the next day.
“By 10am the next morning, I was still over the new limit. And at noon. And at 2pm.
“Astonishingly, it took until 3pm the next day – more than 12 hours later – to get my body back to normal.
“But even then I was reluctant to drive again as I was so stunned at how long the process took.
“As a motorist, I’ve always been wary about drink driving and try to ensure I won’t be behind the wheel of a car the night after drinking.
“But with the limit now even lower, my tolerance to alcohol more sensitive than I realised and a firmer focus from the authorities on ensuring the new law is adhered to, I will be leaving it as long as I possibly can between drinking and getting behind the wheel.”
Andrew Clark
“Just as Scotland is leading the way for the UK with the new drink drive limit, Ashleigh and I led the way for the office on Saturday night as we investigated that new limit.
“Going out to the pub certainly wasn’t the worst job we have been asked to do so we grabbed our new Alco Sense breathalysers and headed for Union Street.
“Saturday night was the first time I had used a breathalyser and it returned some rather surprising results – particularly on Sunday morning.
“Daftly I backed myself to drink a couple of pints and still be under the limit – my breathalyser begged to differ.
“After just one pint of lager I was already over the limit. With that in mind, the cars were doomed to a night in the pub’s car park and we continued drinking – all in the name of science so we could test ourselves again the next morning.
“It was these results that really shocked me.
“I tested myself when I first woke up at 7am – unsurprisingly I was still over the limit.
“I nodded off back to sleep and tried again at 10am – still over the limit.
“At noon I did another test – still over the limit, and by this time I was starting to worry.
“At 2pm I carried out my fourth – and what I thought would be my final – test, but rather alarmingly discovered I was still over the new limit.
“Not until my 4pm test did my breathalyser tell me it was safe to go and get the car.
“Our experiment really opened my eyes to the implications of the new limit and while the new law won’t force me to back out of any Christmas parties, I will certainly be walking or taking the bus to any engagements the following day.”
Andrew and Ashleigh were using AlcoSense breathalysers which can be found at www.alcosense.co.uk.