How Much Will Put You Over The Limit?
Did you know that Australia is the drunkest country in the world? That’s what the Global Drug Survey (GDS) reported after surveying more than 32,000 people from 22 countries in 2020.
Australians were reported to drink alcohol on average two nights a week, and the number was lower compared to the French, who drank around three times a week. However, Australians got drunk more often, around once every two weeks.
The drunkenness frequency in Australia even surpassed the global average. The survey found that Australians drank around 27 times a year, exceeding the global average of 15 times a year. So, how much alcohol will put you over the limit in Australia? Let’s find out below.
Number of Standard Drinks
Beer
Glass: 285 ml
Bottle: 375 ml
Schooner: 425 ml
Red Wine
Standard service: 100 ml
Average restaurant serving: 150 ml
Bottle: 750 ml
White Wine
Standard service: 100 ml
Average restaurant serving: 150 ml
Bottle: 750 ml
Spirits
Nip: 30 ml
Bottle: 700 ml
Factors that Influence Alcohol Level
Everyone was born differently, each individual also has different drinking endurance. Several factors contribute to one’s alcohol levels, which are:
- Size and weight
- Food consumption
- Gender
- General health
- Liver function
The Limit in Australia
Whilst the Australians are named the heaviest drinkers in the world, the country actually has strict laws about drinking and driving. The Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) becomes the metric to measure the alcohol level in an individual’s blood.
The BAC ranges from 0,00 to 0,12. The higher the BAC, the more likely one loses consciousness, therefore the more dangerous it is to be behind the steering wheel.
- 0,00 BAC: learners and provisional license-holders must not drink alcohol before driving.
- 0,02 – 0,05 BAC: The ability to correctly see or locate moving lights is diminished.
- 0,05 – 0,08 BAC: The ability to judge distance is reduced and reactions are slower. At 0,08 BAC drivers are five times more likely to have an accident.
- 0,08 – 0,12 BAC: Euphoria sets in; overestimating one’s abilities leads to reckless driving and impaired peripheral vision. Drivers are ten times more likely to have an accident.
The general rule of thumb is to keep below 0,05
Alcohol affects people differently, so there is no exact rule to keep being below 0,05 BAC. However, it is thought that two standard drinks in the first hour will keep you below 0,05 BAC, and one standard drink per hour thereafter will maintain that level.
Conclusion
Driving under alcohol influence can be dangerous not just for you but also for other people. If you know you’ll be drunk, seek help from your friends or relatives or hire a driver to drive you home.
Embed This Image On Your Site (copy code below):
