How much is too much? Is it two beers or one glass of wine? Drinking and driving has become one of the biggest threats on South African roads, causing a lot of horrific and fatal accidents every day, even though there are many different forms of safe transport in South Africa.
So, what is over the limit and how much is too much according to South African law?
WHAT IS CONSIDERED “OVER THE LIMIT” IN SA?
In South Africa the legal blood alcohol limit is 0.05g per 100ml, but what does this mean in layman’s terms? 1
This is the equivalent of a maximum of one unit of alcohol per hour. 10ml of pure alcohol for an average person weighing 68kg is can be viewed as one unit of alcohol. Our bodies are only able to process one unit of alcohol per hour depending on our body weight. 1
WHAT EXACTLY IS “ONE UNIT” OF ALCOHOL?
- Two thirds of a beer or spirit cooler with a 5% alcohol content. 1
- Wine drinkers: it can consist of 75ml of wine per hour, with an alcohol content between 12% – 14%.1
- Brandy and Whisky drinkers: it consists of one tot 25ml’s of alcohol per hour. 1
WHY IS ONE UNIT OF ALCOHOL TOO MUCH?
Even after consuming one unit of alcohol your driving ability will be impaired and your co-ordination will be compromised while driving.
- Alcohol is a depressant. This means that alcohol can make drivers feel sleepy or drowsy. 4
- A drunk driver’s reflexes are negatively affected, which can make their reaction time slower than what is needed to safely drive. 4
- It can cause drunk drivers to have blurred vision and slurred speech. 4
- A drunk driver’s judgement and decision making is affected, and not in a positive way, which can make a drunk driver more reckless at the wheel. 4
- After having one unit of alcohol your chances of having an accident can double. If you have two units of alcohol, your chances of having an accident can increase as much as four times. 4
IS DRINKING AND DRIVING A CRIMINAL OFFENCE?
According to South African law it is a criminal offence to dink and drive and you could face imprisonment of up to 6 years or a get a fine of R120,000 and a criminal record. A criminal record can linger for 10 years. 2
The bigger and more serious repercussions of driving drunk, is if you caused someone’s death due to an accident. You will face charges of culpable homicide, with some prosecutors even pushing for a murder charge. 2
HOW CAN A CRIMINAL RECORD AFFECT YOUR FUTURE?
- You will face a few life-changing problems once you have a criminal record. You will struggle to find employment, unless you can provide proof from the police that your case has been closed. 2
- Travelling outside of South Africa will be impossible, as you will not be granted a travelling Visa. 3
Please think twice before you drink and drive again. If you know that you will be drinking, rather catch a lift with someone who you know won’t be drinking. Alternatively, there are many taxi service companies available to do the driving for you. Taxi services are really convenient, and some are affordable as well.
The repercussions are extremely serious and simply not worth the risk. Regardless of a criminal record, your safety and other road users’ safety is of the utmost importance. You know that it’s the right choice to make.
Drinking and driving is definitely not advisable. Driving a car without car insurance may not be advisable too.
Disclaimer:
This article was prepared by Eric Sandmann in his personal capacity. The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the views and opinions of Prime Meridian Direct (Pty) Ltd, FSP41040.The views and opinions in the article should not be attributed to anyone but the author unless expressly stated. Nothing in this article should be relied upon as advice, this publication is presented for informational purposes only. No person should act or refrain from acting in reliance on any information found in this article, without first obtaining proper financial advice from the appropriate professional. The author makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, or completeness, of any information linked from, referred to, or contained in this article. The author reserves the right, to edit and change the content of this article.
How Much Is Too Much To Drink Before I Drive? We recommend ZERO alcohol! https://t.co/08lY7B6FCT @SADD_SA #ArriveAlive @TrafficRTMC @WCGovSafelyHome pic.twitter.com/th5PPtmn5R
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) April 13, 2018
Sources:
1 https://www.womenonwheels.co.za/safety/drinking-driving-exactly-limit/
3 https://www.news24.com/MoveMag/Archive/the-challenge-of-having-a-criminal-record-20170728
How Much Is Too Much To Drink Before I Drive? We recommend ZERO alcohol! https://t.co/drZOyNMypa @SADD_SA #ArriveAlive @TrafficRTMC @WCGovSafelyHome pic.twitter.com/FqAsCb0N3W
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) April 19, 2019