Issue #49, March 16, 2007

The Y Factor

None for the Road

with Christian McLean

It is fitting that National Poison Prevention Week begins the day after St. Patrick’s Day, followed by Alcohol Awareness Month in April – about the same time that your hangover from too many Guinnesses wears off. And while there is nothing wrong with having a drink or two, you should really keep tabs on your tab.

The alcohol market rakes in somewhere close to $155 billion a year. 75% of that comes from folks who drink more than five drinks at a sitting. And the most notorious day of binge drinking in America is St. Patrick’s Day. If you are a sucker for stats, statistics show that there is a 23% better chance of getting into an automobile accident if you drive on that holiday. Guess what? Even hitting a deer when you’re over the legal limit will get you a trip to jail. While driving while intoxicated (DWI) offenders have to register 0.08% blood alcohol content (BAC) to end up behind bars, but you can still get arrested for driving while your ability is impaired (DWAI) with a Blood Alcohol Level of 0.05%.

What do these numbers mean? Firstly, your “tolerance,” or how well you can handle your booze, does not factor into your BAC level. The breakdown is simple. Your blood alcohol content is a ratio comprised of the amount of alcohol you consume, the time that passed between drinks and your weight. While some studies show that women process alcohol slower than men, which leads to a buildup of alcohol in the system over time, here are the general guidelines for alcohol and BAC that pertain to both genders.

A 12 oz. beer, 5 oz. glass of wine, or a 1 1/2 oz. shot of whisky, will all register as the same amount of alcohol on a breathalyzer test, roughly 0.02%. If it takes about an hour for your body to metabolize one standard drink, consuming two pints of stout in an hour can put you over the legal limit. A pint is 16 ounces. If you have consumed more than two and a half drinks, your BAC will probably register somewhere close to 0.053%. It’s a fine line, but crossing that line can cost you your license, thousands of dollars, or, more importantly, your life or the lives of others. Even two drinks can impair your reaction and braking time enough to get you in a lot of trouble.

The best way to avoid all these problems is to not drink. But let’s be honest, during winter in the Hamptons, there is nothing to do. When a celebration like St Patrick’s Day comes about – 24 hours synonymous with beer and whisky – almost everyone goes out for a pint or two.

If you have committed yourself to drinking, here are a few helpful hints to keep you safe. First, designate a driver or go to a bar within walking distance (if it isn’t freezing out). If you are attending a party, spend the night. While you should be responsible for yourself, designate someone to look after you while you look after them – just like the buddy system. If you feel you have an important duty to perform, you will be less likely to get caught up in the moment and end up hammered. Eat something before you head out and keep eating throughout the night. Get yourself a nice big serving of shepherd’s pie. The food will absorb some of the alcohol in your stomach, which will prevent it from being sucked into the bloodstream all at once, allowing your body to process the booze better.

Avoid salty foods while drinking. Salt dehydrates your body, which does two things. It makes you want to drink more, and leads to a more severe hangover the next day.

Pace your drinking. Don’t do shots, chugging contests or any of the other group binge-drinking nonsense that goes on these days. A pint of Guinness is meant to be savored and enjoyed. In between alcoholic drinks, have a glass of water. This will slow your drinking down and keep you hydrated. Also, remember that you can always say “No, thank you.”

St Patrick’s Day is a day of celebration, but that can quickly change. Drinking in excess leads to all kinds of mischief, not just vehicle-related catastrophes. In a study performed by Johns Hopkins University, researchers found that, between the years of 1975-1995, there were 7,459 unintentional deaths, 28,696 homicides, and 19,347 suicides attributed in part to alcohol. So before you sip that first green beer of the day, devise a plan to stay safe. And have a happy St. Patrick’s Day.