A few tips can help you avoid the police and a DUI charge. They all involve behaving responsibly.
Drink responsibly or you'll get a DUI. You hear it all the time. However,
it's not always enough to keep you from indulging just a little too much.
On average it takes about an hour for a drink to run through your body and no longer register on a blood alcohol test. A "drink" is usually defined as a beer (12 oz), a glass of wine (5-6 oz), straight liquor (1.5 oz), or a mixed drink containing 1.5 oz of liquor. Alcohol content of certain beverages can vary widely. Grain alcohols tend to be more "pure," meaning they have higher alcohol content. The higher the alcohol content, the more your blood alcohol content (BAC) will increase.
Slow down. No chugging. No funneling. No drinking games. This can raise your BAC rapidly and cause problems from slurring and impaired judgment to alcohol poisoning and possibly death. While a lot of us wish we were back in college partying with friends, the risks outweigh the benefits, especially if you end up in handcuffs at the end of the night with a pending DUI charge. Plus, slowing down allows you to enjoy each drink instead of rushing through a blur of fruity drinks and shots.
One-to-one. Follow this rule of one non-alcoholic drink after every alcoholic drink. This will help give your body time to metabolize the alcohol along with allowing your brain to better register just how much the drinks are affecting you. Additionally, you have a better chance at avoiding a hangover the next morning, and we all like that thought.
Don't accept drinks from anyone you don't know or drinks of which you aren't sure about the contents. Mixed drinks can be misleading, because they don't taste like booze. From margaritas to screwdrivers, these drinks taste more like sugary refreshments. Even worse about mixed drinks is that they sometimes have more than one kind of liquor in them. This can cause BAC to increase significantly even though it doesn't feel like you're drinking more than a regular drink.
Hot wings, pizza, and beer -- sounds like a dream come true for many sports fans. Well, you're doing it right. Breads, carbs and protein can help absorb alcohol. This will keep your BAC from rising rapidly and allow your body to properly metabolize the alcohol.
Mixing food with alcohol can be a great help. Mixing pills with alcohol can end badly. Pills can mask or intensify the effects of alcohol on your body. This can completely throw off your BAC levels on various tests.
Obviously, the best thing to do is have a designated driver. If one is not available, find a cab company to get you home safely. But if you do have the misfortune of encountering a police officer, be courteous and cooperate as fully as you can while still remembering that you have rights. You have the right to refuse a field sobriety test.
Keep in mind that the police officer can still arrest you and take you to the station under the suspicion of DUI. If this does happen, keep your options in mind. Make your phone call and determine the best course of action for your current situation.
