Some people use alcohol to help them relax after a long day at work. They might feel tempted by the happy hour specials on offer at local bars and restaurants during their commute home for the day. A drink can seem like the best option after a stressful day.
Unfortunately, stopping off for a drink on the way home could expose a professional to legal risk. After they leave the establishment, they could get pulled over by law enforcement and might end up facing driving under the influence (DUI) charges.
Even those who have tempered their drinking by limiting how many drinks they enjoy could find themselves accused of having a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) over the legal limit. Personal habits and small decisions earlier in the day can have a major impact on DUI arrest risk. One seemingly simple and common choice can put an individual at risk of a DUI charge.
Drinking without food can be dangerous
Establishments offer snacks or meals along with alcohol so that people can drink for longer with less risk of excessive impairment. Unfortunately, many patrons don’t take advantage of those offerings. In fact, they may stop for a drink when they haven’t had anything to eat in hours.
Drinking on an empty stomach increases the speed with which alcohol enters the bloodstream. It can also increase the overall degree of impairment generated by the amount of alcohol an individual consumes. Someone who has a single cocktail on an empty stomach might demonstrate significantly higher levels of impairment than they usually display after enjoying a drink.
A hard day at work that forces a professional to forgo a meal might make happy hour seem particularly tempting on the way home from work. Unfortunately, the very factors that might make a drink seem appealing could also contribute to their risk of overindulging and getting stopped for impaired driving. Motorists with elevated BACs are at risk of DUI charges regardless of how they behave in traffic.
Those facing DUI charges may need to look at the defense options available to them if they want to fight back against those allegations. Looking at the secondary factors that may have contributed to DUI charges can help defendants respond more appropriately after an arrest.
