Drinking while driving?
Discussion
I should start by saying I'm not planning to take this up, but...
I know it's illegal to drive while over a certain blood alcohol level, and occasionally people get done for drinking a soft drink at the wheel, but is it specifically illegal to drink something alcoholic while driving?
I have a vision of driving down my local high street with some exotic looking cocktail with one of those little umbrellas and a couple of cherries resting in my van's cupholder, and occasionally having a sip.
I know it's illegal to drive while over a certain blood alcohol level, and occasionally people get done for drinking a soft drink at the wheel, but is it specifically illegal to drink something alcoholic while driving?
I have a vision of driving down my local high street with some exotic looking cocktail with one of those little umbrellas and a couple of cherries resting in my van's cupholder, and occasionally having a sip.
Edited by Johnnytheboy on Saturday 12th February 10:09
jimbobsimmonds said:
Why would you drink and drive? You will spill it everywhere...
Somebody had to post the old gag, didn't they 
Seriously, though, I believe it is technically illegal to drink anything whilst driving. There was a case in my neck of the woods about 3 years ago where a woman took a drink of water from a bottle whilst waiting at a set of traffic lights and PC Bored happened to notice her.
The case got in all the local papers but she still got fined.
The moral is, don't drink anything whilst driving within clear sight of Plod. Just in case he/ she hasn't got much to do that morning
rs1952 said:
Seriously, though, I believe it is technically illegal to drink anything whilst driving. There was a case in my neck of the woods about 3 years ago where a woman took a drink of water from a bottle whilst waiting at a set of traffic lights and PC Bored happened to notice her.
Opposite in Spain 
Over here youre expected to carry water with you and drink as often as you like, otherwise dehydration leads to poor concentation
saaby93 said:
rs1952 said:
Seriously, though, I believe it is technically illegal to drink anything whilst driving. There was a case in my neck of the woods about 3 years ago where a woman took a drink of water from a bottle whilst waiting at a set of traffic lights and PC Bored happened to notice her.
Opposite in Spain Over here youre expected to carry water with you and drink as often as you like, otherwise dehydration leads to poor concentation
Shall we schedule our next meet for Alicante airport rather than the Cotswold Water Park
rs1952 said:
Seriously, though, I believe it is technically illegal to drink anything whilst driving. There was a case in my neck of the woods about 3 years ago where a woman took a drink of water from a bottle whilst waiting at a set of traffic lights and PC Bored happened to notice her.
The case got in all the local papers but she still got fined.
The moral is, don't drink anything whilst driving within clear sight of Plod. Just in case he/ she hasn't got much to do that morning
I'm sorry but I bet their is more to that story, a bit like the person who was eating an apple and got points and a fine. All the papers jumped on the fact that aerial photos were used showing the route and how much it must have cost to launch the helipcopter, despite it being on route to base from another incident when the photos were taken. That sort of over-shadowed the case.The case got in all the local papers but she still got fined.
The moral is, don't drink anything whilst driving within clear sight of Plod. Just in case he/ she hasn't got much to do that morning
There is no specific law against drinking something whilst driving. There is a law against not being in proper control of your vehicle but it has to show that you were not in proper control. In the case about the apple eater it was proved she was swerving around in her lane, not indicating etc whilst eating the apple therefore not in proper control. I have also seen cases in court whereby people changing CD's are swerving all over whilst doing so and have been fined.
lambo_xx said:
Bit off topic but is it illegal to have a sip of water while driving? I always assumed it was?
See the above.
14-7 said:
rs1952 said:
Seriously, though, I believe it is technically illegal to drink anything whilst driving. There was a case in my neck of the woods about 3 years ago where a woman took a drink of water from a bottle whilst waiting at a set of traffic lights and PC Bored happened to notice her.
The case got in all the local papers but she still got fined.
The moral is, don't drink anything whilst driving within clear sight of Plod. Just in case he/ she hasn't got much to do that morning
I'm sorry but I bet their is more to that story, The case got in all the local papers but she still got fined.
The moral is, don't drink anything whilst driving within clear sight of Plod. Just in case he/ she hasn't got much to do that morning
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