With the festive season upon us and your last day of work looming, it’s important to work out how you’re going to get home from your Christmas ‘do’. Most truck companies insist on zero alcohol consumption for their drivers. So it’s best not to put yourself in a situation where you break your company’s rules and possibly drink and/or take drugs and drive. Some tips on how to avoid drinking and driving or taking recreational drugs.

How to avoid drinking and taking drugs

First up, plan ahead and have a designated driver to take you home. This does mean someone at the party may miss out on some of the fun. Better still get someone not involved in the function to pick you up.

If in doubt, avoid drinking and taking drugs and don’t drive

If you have your own transport (not your truck) and are going to pace yourself, learn the legal limits:

• Under 20 years: zero alcohol
• 20 years and over: 50mg/100ml blood or 250mcg/litre breath. This equals about 2-4 standard drinks for women and around 2-5 for men. But many factors can change this, for example, how big you are, how much you’ve eaten, whether you’re hydrated. As well, a standard drink is way smaller than most think. If in doubt, don’t drive,

Make a note on your phone as you grab another beer or add to your glass. Don’t leave your drink unattended as other people may top your drink up. Consider having a soft drink, juice or water in between drinks. This will help with hydration as dehydration can increase the chances of intoxification.

Good hosts will always provide food and if you are having one or two drinks, please eat. Food helps absorb alcohol and helps prevent intoxification.

Alternatives you can drink

If you decide not drinking or taking drugs is the best response have some alternatives. Worried about being teased? No alcohol beer looks like the real thing, especially when poured so if you feel comfortable, you can always ‘look the part’.   If you’re more comfortable being upfront, opt for non-alcoholic drinks, like juice or coke. Check punch, mocktails etc to make sure there’s no alcohol added.

If offered a drink or drugs a polite “no thanks, I’m driving” or “I’m the designated driver” will usually do the trick. This is a straightforward response that most people respect.

If you feel pressured, try to talk about something else, make a joke.

Increased Police patrols mean it’s best to avoid drinking and taking drugs

As above, if you decide to have one or two drinks and drive yourself be aware of increased Police patrols this summer. New laws have given Police the right to take saliva tests for four known substances: THC (cannabis) methamphetamine (meth) MDMA (ecstasy) and cocaine. As well, of course, as blood tests to read alcohol levels.

The statistics are well known, drink and drug driving causes impairment and therefore increases the likelihood of traffic accidents and infringements.

Simple message about driving

Enjoy your break-up work function, whatever form that takes, but don’t drink or take drugs and then drive.

Merry Xmas from the team at CleanCo.