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Alcohol consumption results in a higher crash rate. More alcohol consumptions means even more crashes.

Alcohol affects our behavior and judgment. No person is too skilled, too big, or too clever to avoid the effects alcohol has. The bottom line is: as long as we are human, alcohol will affect our behaviour.

Do you know how alcohol affects your body? Check out the information below for more details.

What is BAC and BAL?

Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) and Blood Alcohol Level (BAL) are measurements that reflect the amount of alcohol in the blood. A BAC of 0.05 means that in every 100 ml of blood there is 0.05 grams of alcohol. Many countries are enforcing BAC limits on drivers to reduce road traffic injuries. Police can stop any driver to check for the BAC. All the driver has to do is breathe into a device called a breathalyzer to know how much alcohol is in his/her blood.
 

How does alcohol affect driving?

Even small quantities of alcohol have an impact on our driving abilities. Here are some of the effects of alcohol consumption:

• Poor coordination: having trouble doing more than one thing at a time, having difficulty steering the car

• Longer reaction time: reacting more slowly when something unexpected happens (a car approaching you from the side, people crossing the street)

• Poor judgement: having trouble judging your and other people’s behaviour (including speed, distances, movement) and more likely to underestimate risks

• Reduction in concentration, memory, vision and hearing: focusing only on the road ahead, losing track of what is taking place in your peripheral vision area, missing out on things they see and hear

• False sense of confidence and overestimation of abilities: feeling more confident and taking risks that we would not usually take. At the same time, our actual abilities and skills are less than they usually are. The combination of reduced ability and more risk taking is particularly dangerous.

Why does this happen?

Alcohol is a nervous system depressant or a “downer”. It has a numbing effect on the brain making it slower and less able to concentrate.

How much can I drink?

To stay safe it is better not to drink at all when you will be driving. Research shows that a single drink increases the risk of death or serious injury by five times.

You do not have to be drunk for alcohol to affect your driving. Your driving abilities will be reduced even if you feel perfectly normal. If you are wake and can hold a conversation with your friends it does not mean that you can drive safely.

Your BAC is more likely to rise at a greater rate if you are a female, a fast drinker, have a low body weight, have not eaten recently, or are drinking highly carbonated drinks such as champagne.

The liver breaks down alcohol at a rate of approximately one standard drink per hour. To prevent your BAC rising further do not drink more than one standard drink per hour. A standard drink is a drink which contains about 10 grams of alcohol. Hotels and restaurants usually serve alcohol in standard drink size glasses. Wine, however, is normally sold in 140 mL or 200 mL glasses. One 200 mL glass of wine contains approximately two standard drinks. Glasses used at home are unlikely to be standard drink size so take extra care if you using home glasses. The labels on alcoholic drink bottles and cans show the number of standard drinks they contain.

Tips to stay safe

• Allow enough time to recover from the affects of alcohol and other drugs
• Remember that alcohol affects people differently; one drink might not affect your friend much but can have a huge impact on you.
• Keep your BAC low: drink light alcoholic beverages; alternate between alcohol and non-alcoholic drinks; have only one type of alcoholic drink, avoid drinking in rounds, watch out when people are refilling your glass
• Do not mix alcohol with drugs or medicine
• Plan alternative ways to get home before you go out: designate someone who has not been drinking, use public transport, catch a taxi, stay the night, ask a parent if it’s possible for them or another adult to pick you up, etc.
• Have a back up plan so if your original plan doesn’t work out you know what to do.
  
  

 
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