The question that’s always at the top of all drivers’ minds regarding alcohol is: How much can I drink before I go over the legal limit?

According to arrivealive.co.za, both male and female drivers can exceed the legal limit after just two beers, but the general guideline is that 2 drinks within 1 hour will put you on/over the legal limit. You should not drink more than this if you will be driving.

On the SAPS’s website, it says your blood may not have an alcohol content of more than 0,05%. This means that even after what you may think is a "small drink", you could be over the limit. If you have more than 350ml of beer, OR if you have more than a single tot of brandy or other spirit, you may already be over the limit.

SAPS Zero Tolerance Against Drinking & Driving (which is not quite zero-tolerant just yet) states that if you are stopped at a roadblock, and it is determined that you have consumed more than the legal amount of alcohol you may legally consume before driving, you will be arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. You will be held in custody until you are able to post bail (and in certain instances bail may be denied).

 

How breathalysers work

Alcohol intoxication is legally defined by the Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) level. Breathalysers determine the BAC by measuring the amount of ethanol in the breath.

 

What is fact?

Depending on, if you are found to be driving under the influence of alcohol you could face a minimum fine of R2,000 or a two-year prison sentence (or both). The severity of your punishment will depend on prior convictions against you, and the circumstances surrounding your arrest. You may also lose your driver's licence, or have it suspended. And, of course, you will have a criminal record!

 

Fiction fails

It is a myth, based on a decades-old study, that you can reduce your BAC reading on the breathalyser test by hyperventilating before you blow. This does not replace the alcoholic gas in your lungs with fresh air and will not result in a lower BAC reading.

Far-fetched fiction

  • Breath mints/gum

Chewing gum or sucking on a mint will cover up your breath, but it won’t do much to reduce the BAC reading.

  • Holding Your Breath

We’re not sure why this would seem like a good idea. Holding your breath actually gives alcohol more time to diffuse within your lungs and will possibly increase your BAC reading.

  • Copper coin

Placing a coin under your tongue does not affect the breathalyser results in any way.

  • Breath spray/mouthwash

Many of these contain alcohol. If you spray or wash with one of these before the test, you could potentially achieve a higher BAC reading on your test.

  • Drinking coffee.

It might keep you awake during the test but coffee won’t do much to skew the results of your breathalyser test.

 

How to actually beat a breathalyser test

There’s only one really effective way to stay on the right side of the breathalyser test and the law: Don’t drink and drive – it works every time!