Alcolizer

[c00ky83]

If anyone's seen the Alcolizer, a breathalising machine installed in some car parks, can they tell me what units the measurement is in? Last night I scored 62.7 and my mate got 79.4.

[Goodsoulette]

i think its mgs of alcohol per 100 mls of breath!

[Buenchico]

Goodsoulette has answered your question with complete accuracy.

If you want to put your figures into context, the legal maximum for driving is 35mcg/100ml.

Chris

[Goodsoulette]

YAy!!!

[c00ky83]

Thanks for those answers...but to be pedantic, is it mg or mcg?

Also...if the legal limit is 35 and I was in the 60s then that means I was less than 2x the limit - after 4 pints, 2 shots and at least 4 doubles and mixers. So therefore by doing the maths I can safely drive after 2 pints, 1 shot and 2 doubles and mixer! Maybe there's some accuracy issues...

[Buenchico]

(2-part post):

The figure is in microgrammes. (So, since we're being pedantic, I should have said that Goodsoulette's answer was 1000 times too high. I assumed that he/she had simpled used the wrong abbreviation).

Alcohol levels, both in blood and breath, continue to rise for at least an hour or so after drinking so, if you'd just left the pub, your levels were still rising.

Because alcohol affects everyone differently, official bodies (such as health experts and road safety campaigners) are reluctant to suggest a maximum number of units which may be consumed before driving. Quite reasonably, they prefer to stick to saying 'Don't drink and drive'.

For what it's worth, here's a rough guide based on what I've read in various magazines or websites. (A pint of 5% abv lager, such as Stella Artois, contains 2.8 units of alcohol. A pint of 3.6% abv bitter contains 2.0 units. A double spirit, served from a 35ml optic, contains 2.8 units):

[Buenchico]

1 unit: Hardly measurable impairment of reaction times. Possibly 'over the limit' in those European countries with lower drink drive levels but not in the UK.

2 units: Noticeable impairment to reaction times. Most people would be 'over the limit' in many European countries but only a fairly small percentage would fail a UK breathalizer test.

3 units: Significant impairment to reaction times. Everyone over most European limits. Many people close to, or over, the UK limit.

4 units: Reaction times even slower. Most people over the UK limit.

5 units: Almost everyone over the UK limit.

A rough guide to the minimum time it takes alcohol to clear your body is to allow one hour per unit, starting from one hour after finishing your last drink.

Health officials state that men should not consume more than 3 to 4 units per day. The safe limit for women is given as 2 to 3 units.

A rough calculation shows that you consumed over 20 units, possibly closer to 25.

Chris

[c00ky83]

Very thorough Chris. For the record, I'm not proud of those figures, although it was a good night! And if I'm driving I won't touch a drop :)