The Late-Night Lift Home
You are at a friend's house and have had two glasses of wine over about three hours. You feel fine. It is 11:30 pm and you drove there, so your car is outside. The drive home is 8 km through suburban streets with a police booze bus sometimes set up on the main road. You are 19 years old and hold a provisional licence, which in Tasmania means a zero alcohol limit. A friend offers to drive, but they have also been drinking. Another option is a taxi, which will take 20 minutes to arrive.
1. What should you do, and why does your licence type matter?
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Do not drive. As a provisional licence holder you must have a zero blood alcohol concentration, so any alcohol is over the limit. Even two glasses over three hours can leave alcohol in your system, and feeling fine is not a reliable guide because alcohol impairs judgement and reaction time before you notice it. The safest choice is the taxi, even with the wait, or a lift from someone who has not been drinking.
Do not accept the friend's offer if they have been drinking. Plan ahead in future by arranging a ride or a designated driver before drinking.
2. How would you decide whether you are safe to drive the next morning?
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Do not rely on how you feel. Alcohol is eliminated slowly, and a big night can leave you over the limit the next morning, which matters especially on a zero limit. Use time, food, water and sleep, and if in doubt do not drive. A rough guide is to allow many hours after heavy drinking before driving, but the only reliable check is a breath test or simply not driving. If you must travel, use public transport or a lift.