How much is that drink?

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Brian M. Boisvert
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Drivers in the United Kingdom who visit or live in Scotland could find themselves over the blood alcohol content legal driving limit after just one alcoholic beverage according to a new law effective Dec. 5, 2014.

The new law means drivers could be legally impaired after just one drink because the current U.K. standard BAC limit of 80 mg per 100 ml of blood has been reduced to 50 mg for drivers only in Scotland. That is equivalent to reducing the BAC from .08 percent to .05 percent.

"There is never a good reason to drive after drinking," said Staff Sgt. Koert Lyman, 100th ARW ground safety technician, from Eastham, Mass. "Most people think that they are okay to drive after drinking one glass of beer or wine, and maybe legally they are, but in Scotland, that one drink can possibly put you legally over the limit."

This change brings the Scottish BAC law in line with most other European countries in an attempt to reduce the amount of impaired motorist on the road.

U.S. airmen and family members stationed in the U.K. who choose to have just one alcoholic drink and then drive could cost more than the pub tab; it could cost a career or someone's life regardless if driving in Scotland, the local area or on base.

"Since the legal limit in Scotland was lowered, drivers in the local area who are used to the local law that has a higher BAC limit now need to understand they could be arrested if they chose to drive in Scotland with its lower limit after just a single drink," Lyman said.

Just because the law was lowered in Scotland does not mean that it is acceptable for drivers in the rest of the U.K. to drink and drive where there is a higher accepted BAC limit.

"The amount of alcohol in the blood is determined by how quickly someone's body can metabolize the alcohol and it is different for each person," said Lyman.

Any amount of alcohol in the blood system can impair a driver's reaction time and ability to make a safe driving decision. Drivers may be legally under the local limit after drinking a little bit of alcohol, but that does not mean that it is okay to drive, and now that limit is even lower in Scotland.

For more information about the new law and its effects, go to https://www.gov.uk/drink-drive-limit or contact the base safety office at DSN 238-2255 or commercial at 01638 542255.

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