Alchool & Health

Alcohol and Driving

Risks of drunk driving, effects of alcohol on driving ability, and legal penalties.

The number of road accidents caused by driving under the influence of alcohol is extremely high: almost one out of every two road accidents in Italy is related to alcohol consumption (40–50%). These are often serious or fatal accidents, causing approximately 8,000 deaths, 10,000 severe disabilities, and 60,000 hospitalizations every year.

According to the Highway Code, a driver who is stopped by the police may be subjected to a breath alcohol test by measuring the alcohol content in exhaled air (breathalyzer).

To prove driving under the influence, it is sufficient that the breath test, repeated twice at a 5-minute interval, exceeds the legal limit of 0.5 g/l. This limit can be exceeded with approximately:

one and a half glasses of wine (about 187 ml in total),
one and a half 33 cl cans of beer (about 495 ml in total),
a small glass of spirits (about 60 ml in total).

It is advisable to wait more than one hour before driving, which is the minimum time needed to metabolize a glass of beer or wine.
(This time can vary from 1 to 4 hours, depending on health conditions, gender, age, and whether alcohol is consumed with meals or on an empty stomach.)

Increase in braking time: with a blood alcohol level of 0.5 g/l, braking reaction time increases from about 0.75 seconds to about 1.5 seconds.

Reduction of the field of vision: a normal person has a field of vision of about 180°, allowing them to see obstacles even on the sides. After drinking alcohol, the field of vision narrows, in extreme cases leading to tunnel vision.

Sense of distance and speed: under the influence of alcohol, drivers tend to take risks when overtaking because they misjudge distances; a car that is closer may appear farther away.

In general, the 0.5 g/l limit is reached with about two glasses of any alcoholic beverage. This happens more quickly on an empty stomach and in women.