“SAFE NITE OUT” – DOB ON A DRINK DRIVER HEALTH PROMOTION AND ISLE OF MAN CONSTABULARY CAMPAIGN

The twelve-month Safe Nite Out campaign will be focusing on Dob on a Drink Driver for the month of January. This initiative is driven by the Health Promotion Office and the Drug Squad, Isle of Man Constabulary and supported by the Alcohol and Drug Coordinator and Department of Transport Road Safety Unit.

Dob on a Drink Driver aims to encourage people to phone Crimestoppers to report or “dob” on people who are driving over the legal drinking limit. Dob on a Drink Driver will be publicised widely throughout January 2004 giving the Crimestoppers’ telephone number on 0800 555111, where you can provide information regarding drink drivers. You do not have to give your name and there could be a reward subject to certain conditions for giving good information. Your call could save lives!

Acting Inspector John Mitchell of The Isle of Man Constabulary’s Drug Squad, says “This campaign is to reinforce the Christmas drink-driving campaign and to highlight the fact that, although Christmas is over, the eradication of drink-driving still remains a priority for The Isle of Man Constabulary. People should be aware that drink-driving, as well as being a criminal offence, is anti-social and can have far reaching effects, not only on the person caught, but also on their families and associates.”

Sgt John Kinrade states “Police statistics show that the numbers of persons who risk drink driving and being dealt with by the Courts is increasing. The only message is Don’t Drink and Drive. It’s not worth it.’’

It may be difficult to know exactly what the blood alcohol level is when participating in drinking and driving and it is a risk some may take knowingly, but others may be unaware that some drinks have more alcohol in them than others. For example, there can be as much alcohol in a 330ml bottle of ‘alcopop’ as there is in a shot of whisky. There are other factors to consider as well, such as –

• fizzy alcoholic drinks are absorbed quicker than still drinks
• drinking on an empty stomach increases the rate of intoxication
• tolerance levels, gender and body size all contribute to the rate at which alcohol affects you. However, every person’s blood alcohol level will give a true reading of intoxication.

After absorption of just one pub measure of alcohol, muscles will not react in co-ordination as they normally would and it takes longer to react to dealing with a difficult situation on the road whilst driving. It is important to note that drink driving normally occurs between 10pm and 4am.

Orla McGlinchey, Senior Health Promotion Officer, pointed out that, “The legal limit for drinking and driving is 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood (80mg/100mls). It actually takes the liver one-hour to break down a unit of alcohol. Alcohol readings increase rapidly if a good few alcohol units are consumed within the hour. Women on the whole have smaller livers and less body fluid than men and find that they will take longer to break down the same consumed content of alcohol as men. When a large amount of alcohol has been taken, the person may not be fit to drive for many hours later. Some people unfortunately think they are safe to drive the next day, which may not be the case.”

There is no safe way to test your own alcohol reading or sober up quicker.

• Personal responsibility begins with you
• Plan your transport home at the start of the evening
• Arrange to take turns at being a nominated driver who doesn’t drink and drives everyone home
• Use public transport or taxis to get home.
• Never accept a ride home from a driver who has been drinking alcohol
• Don’t force alcohol on drivers

• 20 - Enhanced sense of well being. Reaction time reduced
• 40 - Mild disinhibition. Reduced driving ability
• 60 - Mild impairment of judgement and decision making
• 80 - Physical coordination diminished. Legal driving limit
• 100 - Deterioration in social and physical control
• 150 - Observable intoxication; amnesiac episodes possible
• 350 - Incontinence; sleepiness
• 500+ Coma, breathing difficulties, death

On behalf of all the key players of this campaign we wish you all a safe nite out!

If you require further information you may contact Orla McGlinchey Senior Health Promotion Officer on 642638.