Drink driving
When you’re an experienced driver, it’s
easy to forget how complex driving really
is. Driving requires concentration, good
coordination, swift reflexes and sound
judgment. Drinking alcohol – even one drink
– diminishes this ability.
In Australia, a ‘standard drink’ refers to the
alcoholic content of the beverage, not the
size of the glass or bottle. A standard drink
contains 8–10 grams of alcohol. Because
we can drink different types of alcohol in
a wide range of glasses, keeping track of
how many standard drinks you consume
can be tricky. On average, the human body
processes one standard drink per hour, but
this differs between people as factors such
as age, weight, gender, mood and fatigue
all contribute. Even the medication you are
taking can change how your body processes
alcohol.
Anyone who holds a learner or probationary
licence, no matter where the person is
driving in Australia, must have a zero blood
alcohol concentration (BAC), while for
holders of a full licence, the limit is 0.05. If
your BAC is above 0.05, an offence has been
committed and you could be convicted. This
also applies if you are on a bicycle.
A standard drink
contains 8–10 grams of
alcohol.
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