Alcohol and New Year: Nap, glass of water, coffee… before driving tonight, beware of these 5 preconceived ideas that put you in danger

On December 31, 2024, millions of French people are getting ready to celebrate the transition to the year 2025, and alcohol will often be there. Preconceived ideas persist about its consumption, especially before hitting the road.

While the law is clear on drinking and driving, in practice, it is sometimes difficult to know where we stand. Before getting behind the wheel, certain preconceived ideas creep dangerously into our minds. Let's take stock.

“I'm used to drinking”

First preconceived idea cited by the road safety website: habit. It is not because a consumer feels like they no longer feel the effects of alcohol that they do not exist. The habit does not matter, it is the quantity of alcohol per litre of blood that counts, because it is this that affects our driving skills. The limit is set at 0.5 grams per liter of blood.

How long do I have to wait?

For an adult weighing 70 kg, it takes about 2 hours to eliminate a dose of alcohol. A dose corresponds to the quantity served in a bar: a glass of wine (10 cl), a half of beer (25 cl), a glass of whisky (3 cl). To monitor your alcohol consumption in the evening, try to respect these doses.

Then, each dose corresponds to 0.2 grams of alcohol per liter of blood. So, by drinking three glasses, you get to 0.6 g/l and you exceed the 0.5 g/l limit for driving.

To estimate your blood alcohol level, multiply the number of glasses by 0.2. And remove 0.2 grams from this product every two hours. The best thing to do is to keep a breathalyzer in your car so that you know, when you hit the road, if you are capable of it.

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“I'll have a coffee before I leave”

That won't change anything either! A coffee, and despite its stimulating effect, does not affect the actual state of drunkenness. The same goes for mints, energy drinks, sucking on an ice cube or taking a cold shower. In reality, the only “cure” for drunkenness is time.

“A good nap and I'm off”

Same old story: it's no use. It's not sleep that lowers the alcohol level, but its natural elimination by the body. And this elimination takes time. If you only sleep for an hour after your last drink before leaving, you will still need to check your blood alcohol level.

“A blood alcohol level of 1.5 g/l at three in the morning is still 0.6 g/l the next day at 9 a.m.”, recalls the prevention site.

On the other hand, sleep does indeed have an impact on the ability to drive. According to a study cited by the Road Safety Observatory: “Driving after a sleepless night is equivalent to driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.9 g/l.”

Also, if you have to leave your party the next day, make sure you get a few hours of sleep.

“I drank water between each glass, I'm good to go”

No more. Because it's the quantity of pure alcohol that counts. Diluted in one, two, or five doses of water or soda, a dose of alcohol is still a dose of alcohol. Same thing for food. A good meal will delay the onset of the effects of alcohol, but certainly will not prevent it.

“If I drink too much, I'll walk home”

Or by bike, scooter… No matter the means of transport, even if it is slow, you expose yourself to risks by being on the public highway in a state of intoxication.

As vigilance is impaired, certain vital information can escape you: a fire, an oncoming car, an uneven road… and cause falls or accidents. The best thing is once again to wait before going home.

Remember that alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health, consume in moderation.