Will I Be Okay To Drive In The Morning?

I'm going to be drinking tonight, and leaving my car at a friends house. I'll spend the night there, and I was planning on driving home in the morning.

However, someone told me that they were going to put ride checks (where everyone whose driving is stopped at a checkpoint by police, questioned, and if alcohol is suspected, then they do a breathalyzer, ect). They also said that many people are still over the legal limit in the morning, without even realizing it.

My question is, if I drink (not a ridiculous amount, but enough) will I be okay to drive home at, 11:00 - 11:30 am? "Okay" being under the legal limit?

I also weigh about 125 pounds, if that helps.

Thanks in advance, Happy New Year! :)
Additional Details
I will also stop drinking at about 12:30-1:00am

Terence F

If you are just drinking along, not to get falling-down drunk, then 8-10 hours is just fine to work off the affects and be below the limit.

For a person of your weight, it takes about 1 hour per drink (or can if beer is your game) for your body to metabolize the alcohol. Some of the alcohol is excreted by breathing, that's how a breathalyzer works. You breathe slower when you sleep, so it takes a little longer if you were asleep all that time. Assuming your B/A was run up to .12 or .14 (which is falling-down drunk for most people) it would take 8-10 hours of sleep for you to be safely back under the limit before driving. If you don't drink as much, then the recovery time is shorter.

Hassle factor: breathalyzers are not terribly accurate, and depending on the officer, they could drag you in for a blood test (accurate for court proceedings) on the basis of a marginal breathalyzer test. That happened to me four years ago. I registered under the limit for the field test, but the cops drug me in anyway for a blood test, which I did pass but it was a lot of hassle.

Usually they do this when they think you have been drinking very recently, because it takes awhile for the alcohol to be absorbed into the bloodstream and the delay to get the blood sample taken actually works in their favor, not yours.

The moral of the story is, if you're still feeling buzzed when you wake up in the morning, do the cab thing. It will save you a lot of worrying and hassle.

Have a good one!

izawana

You should be perfectly fine! A good rule of thumb is if you fell like you are still drunk or just feel too crappy in the morning, it is not a good idea to drive!

You should be allright. But I thought cops couldnt do a breathalyzer unless there is reasonable doubt that you were doing something wrong i.e. they smell it or see alcohol in your car. Kind of like unlawful search. But maybe Im wrong.

ryankneale

If I remember right, it takes one hour after drinking to go down .02 If that is correct depending on your level when you stop drinking, 9-10 hours should be enough.

Susan J

If you stop getting high at 12:30 or 1;00AM you will be fine and I commend you on knowing not to drive while you are drinking or under the influence. Have fun !!

Gavin R

I'd drink a lot of water before going to bed - so what if you have to get up once or twice? In the morning have a good breakfast with again lots of water. Alcohol is a waste product and your body needs water to get rid of it. This would help, at any rate.

UCANTCME

Why take the chance and maybe ruin your life or someones else's....don't drink..........life is too short.

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