Drink Driving: This Is How Long It Takes For Alcohol To Leave Your System

As of June 4th, pubs up and down the country are reopening for the first time since March. Drink-driving, it’s feared, will spike as a result. Here’s how long you should wait before driving after a night of revelry…

Accidental Drink Driving?

Fortunately, most motorists don’t take to the wheel after consuming any significant amount of alcohol. The fear of hard-hitting legal measures and the harm you can cause to yourself, passengers and the public are usually more than sufficient deterrents. But many of them aren’t aware that they can remain well above the limit the day after they’ve consumed alcohol. Even if you’re balance has returned, the room’s stopped spinning and you’re no longer in the mood for karaoke, you could still be putting yourself at risk.

Alcohol lingers within people’s systems for longer than they might expect and, give the host of variables that affect the time it takes to leave the body, calculating it can be a challenge. Research conducted by Confused.com has revealed that a third of drivers are taking to the wheel too soon after consuming alcohol. This is important if we consider the fact that a third of motorists caught above the limit are identified between the hours of 5 am and 11 am.

According to the charity Road Respect, this is how long it’ll take for you to sober up based on what you’ve drunk…

Alcohol In The System

Lager (five per cent)

  • One drink – 2.5 hours
  • Two drinks – 5 hours
  • Three drinks – 7.5 hours
  • Four drinks – 10 hours
  • Five drinks – 12.5 hours

Pint (four per cent)

  • One drink – 2.5 hours
  • Two drinks – 5 hours
  • Three drinks – 7.5 hours
  • Four drinks – 10 hours
  • Five drinks – 12.5 hours

Large glass of wine (13.5 per cent)

  • One drink – 3.5 hours
  • Two drinks – 7 hours
  • Three drinks – 10.5 hours
  • Four drinks – 14 hours
  • Five drinks – 17.5 hours

Single spirits (40 per cent)

  • One drink – 1.5 hours
  • Two drinks – 3 hours
  • Three drinks – 4.5 hours
  • Four drinks – 6 hours
  • Five drinks – 7.5 hours

Double spirits (40 per cent)

  • One drink – 3.5 hours
  • Two drinks – 6 hours
  • Three drinks – 9 hours
  • Four drinks – 12 hours
  • Five drinks – 15 hours

These are average times meant as a guide. The determinants include your gender, your size / weight and whether you’ve eaten. Surprisingly, how stressed you are can also affect how quickly alcohol is processed in your body. Given that being caught over the limit can entail unlimited fines, six months in prison and driving bans spanning years, there’s no way to justify driving hungover. Refusing to supply a breathalyser sample entails similar repercussions, too.

Many of us have missed sunny afternoons and evenings at the local pub. They are, after all, emblematic of our culture. But having gone without them for months, there’s more need than ever to enjoy our time at them responsibly.

Drink-Driving Incidents Could Spike After Pubs Reopen – https://www.autoservefleet.co.uk/latest-news/drink-driving-incidents-could-spike-after-pubs-reopen/

Coronavirus Lockdown Could Lead To More Drink-Driving – https://autoserveclub.co.uk/blog/coronavirus-lockdown-could-lead-to-more-drink-driving/

The Autoserve Club can save you time, money and stress. Club Members can receive discounts on servicing and new tyres and will gain access to our professional 24/7 helpline. To learn more, contact our friendly Service Advisers on 0121 521 3500 today.

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