Alcohol, drugs and driving

Any alcoholic drink which contains 10 grams of alcohol is called a standard drink. As the alcohol content of drinks varies greatly, it takes differing amounts of different types of alcohol to make up a standard drink.

The biggest problem with keeping drinks standard and within the BAC limit is that drinks can be served in larger glasses – and with more alcohol – than standard drinks. The following standard drinks have approximately 8 to 10 grams of alcohol:

• 30ml of spirits (40% alc/vol)
• 60ml of fortified wine (18% alc/vol)
• 100ml of champagne (12% alc/vol)
• 100ml of wine (12% alc/vol)
• 150ml of light wine (8% alc/vol)
• 280ml of standard strength beer (4.9% alc/vol)
• 375ml of low-alcohol beer (2.8% alc/vol)

Your BAC is determined by many factors, including:

• what you drink,
• how quickly you drink,
• how much you have eaten,
• how much you weigh,
• your gender,
• the health of your liver,
• how fit you are.

Aerated alcoholic drinks like champagne and sparkling wines can also cause your BAC to rise quicker than other drinks with the same alcohol content.

To be safe, if you plan to drink avoid driving altogether and plan a safe way to get home.

You can check your BAC by using a coin-operated breath tester on licenced premises, but remember that these machines aren't guaranteed to be accurate.

In general:

• A smaller person will have a higher BAC than a larger person.
• A person with more body fat will tend to have a higher BAC.
• Women absorb alcohol faster and usually have a higher BAC than men who drink the same amount.

No, the liver eliminates alcohol from the body at around one standard drink per hour. Once alcohol is in your system, the only way to lower it is to let time pass without drinking more alcohol. Drinking coffee, taking a cold shower, exercising, getting fresh air or vomiting does not lower BAC.

Your BAC will rise as soon as you start drinking and will peak around 30 to 60 minutes after you stop drinking. However, alcohol metabolism is a very individual thing, and your BAC may continue to rise for up to 2 hours after your last drink.

Yes, you can be over the limit the morning after drinking. It can take many hours for alcohol to leave your body so that you are safe to drive.

Road crash statistics show alcohol is still a major factor in the number of people killed and injured on our roads. At 0.05 BAC your risk of crashing is twice as high as a sober driver. The risk of crashing increases dramatically as your BAC level increases.

Alcohol significantly impairs vision, reaction times and coordination which are all important to drive safely.

How do I avoid the risk of drink-driving?

If you are planning to drive, the only way to be certain of staying under 0.05 is to not drink. If you do decide to drink, reduce your risk by:

• arranging a designated driver,
• taking alternative transport like a taxi or public transport,
• keeping track of your drinks and how long you have been drinking for,
• drinking slowly, and alternating between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks,
• having something to eat while you're drinking,
• drinking light rather than full-strength beer,
• being careful when drinking mixed spirits or cocktails as you can't be sure how much alcohol is in them,
• using a coin-operated breath tester for a rough guide to your BAC,
• waiting at least one hour for each standard drink consumed.

What are the penalties for drink-driving?

Visit VicRoads for laws and penalties for drink-driving.

It's illegal to drink alcohol while driving or supervising a learner driver. The chances of being caught drink-driving are higher in Victoria than almost anywhere in the world.

Police test drivers for:

• THC (the active component in cannabis)
• MDMA (known as ecstasy)
• Methamphetamines (also known as speed, ice or crystal meth).

Roadside saliva testing does not detect the presence of prescribed drugs or common over-the-counter medicines.

How roadside saliva drug tests work

Drivers are stopped at random on the roadside for a saliva drug test, similar to an alcohol breath test.

1. Drivers first complete an alcohol breath test and then a saliva drug test. This involves wiping the saliva device on your tongue. The test takes around 5 minutes to give a reading. If the test is negative, the driver is free to go.
2. Drivers with a positive reading do a different saliva test in the police drug bus. If the second test also returns a positive reading, the driver will be interviewed by police and part of the second sample will be sent for laboratory analysis. The driver is given the remaining portion of the saliva sample.
3. The driver is then able to leave but can't drive their vehicle.
4. The driver will be informed of the outcome of the laboratory analysis within a few weeks of the roadside saliva testing.
5. If the driver tests positive for illicit drugs while driving, they will be fined or prosecuted.

The law and penalties for drug-driving can be found on the VicRoads website.

Some medications affect reaction time and can make you drowsy. If you're worried your medication affects your driving, you should continue taking your medication, avoid driving and see your doctor as soon as possible.

Tips to ensure your driving isn't impaired include:

• Taking your medication as prescribed.
• Asking your doctor or pharmacist about the possible effects the medication will have on your driving.
• Asking about the effect any new medication or change in dosage will have when combined with other medications you are taking.
• Asking whether it is safe to drink alcohol while taking your medication.