Would you drink alcohol before going to the gym? Or maybe just one before work? How about when you were about to operate heavy machinery?
You wouldn’t drink before doing any of these activities, so why would you before you drive?
Even at the current legal alcohol limit for drivers, you’re still twice as likely to have a crash as a driver with a zero blood alcohol level.
Tips for a drink-free night out
- Encourage family and friends to plan ahead and have a sober driver solution sorted before you start drinking.
- Try mocktails and other non-alcoholic drinks.
- Let your family and friends know any plans for the next day that will help you stay alcohol-free.
- Zero-per cent alcohol beer is now available in New Zealand.
Auckland Transport promotes a zero-alcohol policy towards driving.
The only safe choice is to drive drink free.
It can be hard to define the number of alcoholic drinks a person can have before safely getting behind the wheel. The effects of alcohol on a person depends on their weight, sex, age, exactly what they’ve had to eat that day, their general health and other factors.
The following laws apply to drink driving in New Zealand
Under 20: There is a zero alcohol limit if you are under 20. That means if you drive after consuming even one drink you can be charged with drink driving.
20 or over: You must not drive if you have consumed more than the legal alcohol limit, which is now 50 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood.
At 50mg of alcohol, the predictable effects on that person’s driving are reduced coordination, difficulty steering, and a reduced response to emergency driving situations.
