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How Long Does Alcohol Stay in Your System? Understanding the Risks of the ‘Morning After’.
A hangover is not the only problem you might be facing the morning after a night out. Have you ever wondered how long alcohol stays in your system? The answer can vary depending on several factors, such as how much you drank and how quickly your body can process the alcohol.
A lot of people seem to think that if they get a good night’s sleep after having a few drinks they will be fine to drive the next morning, but that’s a risky assumption. The truth is that alcohol takes a lot longer to leave your system than you might think, and just because you feel sober after “sleeping it off,” that is not a guarantee that you are safe to drive. This common misconception can put your licence, your freedom, and more importantly, the safety of other road users at risk.
Even those who are usually careful behind the wheel can get caught driving over the legal alcohol limit simply because they don’t know the facts. The motoring defence team at DPP Law is here to guide you through the facts, from how long it takes for alcohol to leave your system to what you should do if you find yourself facing a charge for driving under the influence of alcohol the morning after drinking. We’ve got you covered.
What are the Legal Alcohol Limits in the UK?
In the UK, there is a strict limit on the amount of alcohol you can have in your system before you are considered unfit to drive. It is worth noting that the law is different in Scotland compared to the UK, Wales and Northern Ireland, and one drink could put you over the legal limits.
In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the limits are:
- Breath: 35 micrograms per 100 ml
- Blood: 80 milligrams per 100 ml
- Urine: 107 milligrams per 100 ml
In Scotland, the limits are significantly lower:
- Breath: 22 micrograms per 100 ml
- Blood: 50 milligrams per 100 ml
- Urine: 67 milligrams per 100 ml
How Long Does Alcohol Stay in Your System?
After you drink, alcohol is directly absorbed into your bloodstream, spreading the alcohol throughout your body. Although a small amount can leave through your breath, sweat, and urine, about 95% has to be broken down by your liver, which can take some time.
Police tests can detect alcohol in your system hours after you’ve had your last drink:
- A breathalyser can detect alcohol in your system up to 24 hours after you’ve had your last drink.
- Blood tests can detect alcohol in your system for 12 hours after consumption.
- Alcohol is detectable in urine for 12 to 24 hours, but more advanced tests can detect it for up to 80 hours.
This means that even if you feel sober, you can be found to be over the legal alcohol limit by police if these tests can detect amounts over the specified limits.
How Many Units Per Hour Does the Body Process? The Dangerous ‘’Rule of Thumb’’
You may have heard that the body processes one unit of alcohol per hour, and while this is the widely cited average, relying solely on this is incredibly risk. In reality, the rate at which your body processes alcohol is unique to every person because it depends on a wide range of factors:
- Your age, weight, and gender
- Your metabolism (how quickly your body turns food into energy)
- How much food you’ve eaten and how hydrated you are
- The type and strength of the alcohol consumed
- Your stress levels and overall health
- Any medications.
Because of these variables, two people can drink the same amount and have completely different levels of alcohol in their system hours later. For example, women tend to feel the effects of alcohol more than men because their bodies typically have a higher proportion of fat and a lower proportion of water, which means the alcohol is more difficult to dilute.
Can I Speed Up How Fast My Body Processes Alcohol?
The answer to this question is no. It is a common myth that you can sober up faster by drinking coffee, taking a cold shower, eating a good meal, or sleeping. While these things can help you feel more awake and less tipsy, they do not lower the amount of alcohol in your system, nor do they speed up the rate at which your body processes this alcohol.
Is it Safe to Drive the Morning After Drinking?
Whether or not you are below the legal limits and safe to drive the morning after depends entirely on how much you drank the night before and when you stopped. For example, if you drink 3 large glasses of wine, which is around 9 units of alcohol, and finish drinking at 10pm, you could still be over the legal limit at 7 am the next morning.
A study conducted in 2022 revealed that out of the 4620 collisions involving a drunk driver that year, 500 happened between the hours of 6 am and 12 pm. Out of these 500 collisions, 30 resulted in a fatality and 130 caused serious injuries. These figures highlight how the morning after is still quite a risky period, especially as there are many people on the roads going to work or dropping off their children at school.
What Happens if You’re Stopped and Tested?
The police can stop you at any time and ask you to take a roadside breath test if they suspect you’ve been drinking, you’ve committed a traffic offence, or you’ve been in an accident.
If the roadside test is positive, you will be arrested and taken to a police station for a final, evidential breath test. The result of this second test is what will be used to charge you. It is a serious offence to refuse to provide a sample without a reasonable excuse, such as a medical condition. If you are charged with failure to provide a specimen, the penalties can be more severe than the penalties for the original drink driving charge.
What are the Penalties for Drink Driving in the UK?
Being convicted for drink driving carries serious consequences that can affect your life for years to come.
The penalties include:
- A mandatory driving ban of at least 12 months (can go up to 3 years for a second offence in a 10 year period)
- An unlimited fine
- A prison sentence of up to six months
- A criminal record, which can affect employment and travel to countries such as the USA and Canada
- Increased car insurance costs
What to Do if You’re Unsure or Have Been Charged
It is not worth the risk of driving if you are uncertain if you are below the legal limit.
If you have already been stopped and charged, it is crucial to get expert legal advice immediately. A positive breath test does not automatically mean you are guilty as the procedures for testing are quite complex and errors can be made. Our experienced solicitors can review the evidence against you to ensure that your rights were upheld and that all procedures were followed correctly.
Understanding your options for legal representation at the police station is a critical first step.
Contact DPP Law for Immediate, Confidential Advice
Being charged with a drink driving offence can be a stressful and overwhelming experience, but you don’t have to face it alone. At DPP Law, we provide clear, expert legal representation to protect your licence and your future. Our team of dedicated motoring defence solicitors has over 35 years of experience and is ready to help you navigate the complex legal road ahead while fighting for the best possible outcome for you.
Get in touch with us today for your free, confidential, no-obligation initial consultation by calling 0333 200 7207. You can also get in contact by submitting your enquiry via our email DrivenToDefend@dpp-law.com, or by filling out our web enquiry form below.
We’re Driven to Defend You.
