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As soon as there are grey areas, people will break the rules. A clear example of which is drink driving. We know the legal limit, but whether it's intentional or not, if you have a drink there is no way of knowing for certain whether you will be under it or not.
In the UK, we like a drink. Whether it's in the pub with friends or a meal with family, there is a regular temptation to have a beer or a glass of wine. A fact reinforced by road safety charity Brake, which says that half of UK drivers admit to driving after having a drink.
However, there are a whole range of variables attached to staying legal. Things like your size, your tolerance to alcoholic drinks, what you've eaten and what you've been drinking all make a difference. Drinking alcohol impacts your reaction times, judgement and co-ordination, so how do you assess whether you are fit to drive?
In short, unless you own a breathalyser kit, you can't be certain. Playing devils advocate, many would argue that on this basis, a total ban on drinking and driving is the best approach to take. That way the line is clear - there is no ambiguity - you either have or you haven't consumed an alcoholic drink.
Unfortunately, where this may not clarify the situation is the next day. It takes much longer than people think to flush alcohol through their system and a zero tolerance policy could write-off much of the next day for drivers and still throws up the issue that they would be uncertain when they can legally get behind the wheel again.
A complete ban is a harsh approach to take, but if you're only allowed one drink anyway (and even that could put you over the limit) does it really make a difference. I know a lot of people who would say yes, but what's the lesser of two evils: not drinking until you get home, or dealing with a hefty ban from driving!
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