Drink driving

NewUserHere

I was driving the other day and had a bit of an argument, well a debate with my friend because I was drinking a can of strongbow.

He insisted it was illegal and irresponsible...

I corrected him, pointing out
A) I was not over the drink drive limit
Drinking whilst driving is something everybody does, whether it be a can of coke; a McDonald's coffee; or a can of cider.

He was insistent if a police office saw me I'd get arrested. However I don't see what grounds they would arrest me on. I'm not over the limit; my driving is not impaired; my eyes are not distracted from the road ahead - not any more than if you was changing the radio station or playing with your sat nab as many do!

So I can't see why he would think that. I often have a fan on the way to friends for a night out and don't make a point of hiding the can of cider - never been bothered or pulled over.

So how can I prove to him he is wrong? Both legally and morally.

Tothepoint.

NewUserHere wrote: »

I was driving the other day and had a bit of an argument, well a debate with my friend because I was drinking a can of strongbow.

He insisted it was illegal and irresponsible...

I corrected him, pointing out
A) I was not over the drink drive limit
Drinking whilst driving is something everybody does, whether it be a can of coke; a McDonald's coffee; or a can of cider.

He was insistent if a police office saw me I'd get arrested. However I don't see what grounds they would arrest me on. I'm not over the limit; my driving is not impaired; my eyes are not distracted from the road ahead - not any more than if you was changing the radio station or playing with your sat nab as many do!

So I can't see why he would think that. I often have a fan on the way to friends for a night out and don't make a point of hiding the can of cider - never been bothered or pulled over.

So how can I prove to him he is wrong? Both legally and morally.

Legally, how do you know you're not over the drink drive limit?

Morally, you obviously have none so we'll leave it at that.

You could be arrested on suspicion of being unfit on excess alcohol.

interstellaflyer

Check some of OPs other posts, please don't feed the troll.

Tothepoint.

interstellaflyer wrote: »

Check some of OPs other posts, please don't feed the troll.

I'm with you now. 👍

[Deleted User]

Legal but will still probably cause you some inconvenience:


http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/woman-caught-drinking-can-stella-9173956

giraffe69

Perhaps just drinking from a can whilst driving with no alcohol might cause a policeman to think you weren't in complete control in which case an offence may have been committed.
When you say your driving is not impaired how many hands do you have on the wheel whilst drinking and how is your vision restricted when you bring the can to your mouth?

dannyrst

giraffe69 wrote: »

Perhaps just drinking from a can whilst driving with no alcohol might cause a policeman to think you weren't in complete control in which case an offence may have been committed.
When you say your driving is not impaired how many hands do you have on the wheel whilst drinking and how is your vision restricted when you bring the can to your mouth?

That is the same as drinking from anything whilst driving, even water.

Basically, it's as illegal as driving whilst drinking irn-bru or anything else. The problem is, the officer who sees you drinking cider doesn't know if that is your first sip of your first can or your last sip of your 10th can. Hence, you're more likely to be pulled over for a quick check. Whether you'd be charged would depend on how the officer feels about people who don't have two hands available for driving.

Oh and as for the OPs analogy of being no different from changing the radio, it is slightly different because you aren't holding the radio. You can quickly move your hand to the steering wheel if needed. When holding something, you have to drop it or place it down, then grab the wheel. Much more dangerous.

Herzlos

It'd certainly get you pulled over and breath tested, and there's a possibility that you'll read high. Probably easier to just wait until you arrive.

I did wonder what'd happen if you were drinking alcohol free beer; I assume you'd still get pulled over and tested.

Tothepoint.

Herzlos wrote: »

It'd certainly get you pulled over and breath tested, and there's a possibility that you'll read high. Probably easier to just wait until you arrive.

I did wonder what'd happen if you were drinking alcohol free beer; I assume you'd still get pulled over and tested.

Why would he read high?

He'd be detained for 20 minutes until they could do the test.

wongataa

Tothepoint. wrote: »

Why would he read high?

The alcohol in the mouth would skew the test results. Just swilling alcohol around the mouth and spitting it out before a breathalyser test will result in a failed test.

Herzlos

Tothepoint. wrote: »

He'd be detained for 20 minutes until they could do the test.

Why would they detain him for 20 minutes prior to the test? He'd have been caught essentially red handed, so he'd be asked for his license and have his details confirmed and then asked for a test.

The 2 times I've been breath tested (both after crashes, 1 my fault, 1 not) and I was breath tested pretty much straight away.