Everyone has heard about the risks of drinking and driving. Not only should you avoid it because it is dangerous, but if you drink and drive, you could be arrested, sentenced to pay heavy fines, see a massive increase in your auto insurance costs, and even lose your license. And that's just what could happen if you get pulled over – there's also the risk of getting into an accident that causes property damage, injury, and even loss of life. But even with the risk of these severe consequences, it can be easy to believe that you can avoid the risks of driving after you've been drinking if you just know the right tricks. Take a look at some common beliefs about drinking that really won't help you avoid a DUI.
You Can Sober Yourself Up
Everyone has heard some remedy or another that's supposed to help an intoxicated person get sober quickly. Black coffee is a common suggestion, as is a meal or a cold shower. But do any of these things really help you sober up faster? The answer is no.
The fact of the matter is that once you've been drinking, the only way to get sober again is to let your body metabolize the alcohol, and nothing can speed that process up. It just takes time. Coffee or a cold shower might help you feel more awake, and you may mistake the feeling of alertness for feeling sober, but they aren't the same thing. If you have food in your stomach before you start drinking, it can absorb some of the alcohol so that you don't become intoxicated quickly, but eating after you drink doesn't do anything to speed up your sobriety – your body will continue to metabolize alcohol at the same rate.
One Drink Per Hour is Safe
If you can't sober yourself up quickly, then the next logical step is to know how much you can drink and stay under the legal limit. Many people stick to what can be called the "One Drink Per Hour Rule," based on the idea that it takes roughly one hour for the body to metabolize each drink. So, in theory, if you stick to one drink per hour, you should remain safe to drive.
It's generally true that it takes the body about an hour to metabolize a drink, but that doesn't necessarily mean that you'll be good to drive if you follow this rule. For one thing, a lot depends on the actual drink. If you choose a mixed drink that contains three shots of liquor, that's going to mean three hours, not just one. If you're drinking larger-than-normal shots, or drinking wine or beer from larger-than-normal glasses, that's going to add to your time too. And keeping track of just how many drinks or shots you've had during a night of drinking isn't always as easy as it sounds. What's more, other factors can affect how quickly you metabolize the alcohol too – anything from your gender to your weight, to any medications you might be taking can affect alcohol absorption. There's just no precise way to know whether or not you're under the legal limit just by counting the number of drinks you've had and watching the clock. You're better off assuming that if you've been drinking you're over the limit.
You Can Fool a Breathalyzer
Maybe you thought you were safe to drive, but the police officer who pulled you over begs to differ. Now you're not so sure, but you still don't want to be arrested for a DUI. Can you fool the breathalyzer into giving you a favorable reading? There are urban legends about sucking on pennies or mints or lighting a cigarette to trick the breathalyzer.
However, none of these strategies stands much of a chance of working. Sucking on coins or mints will help your breath smell better, but the breathalyzer doesn't have a nose and isn't analyzing your scent. Some cheaper breathalyzers that people can buy for personal use might be thrown off by a compound that occurs in a smoker's lungs, but the professional grade machines that police use won't be affected.
More importantly, a police officer doesn't need a breathalyzer reading to arrest you for a DUI. A field sobriety test could be enough for an arrest. A police officer could also test your blood alcohol level with a blood sample. If you can't pass a breathalyzer or field sobriety test to a police officer's satisfaction, your best bet is to cooperate with the officer and ask for a lawyer.
The only surefire way to avoid a DUI is to avoid drinking and driving entirely. Bring a designated driver, call a cab, get a hotel room, or find some other way to avoid getting behind the wheel. However, if you are arrested for a DUI, remember that you still have rights, and a DUI attorney is the best person to help protect your rights in the aftermath of a DUI arrest.
