Alcohol 101

Plan Ahead – Prevent A Tragedy

Even small amounts of alcohol can impair driving ability. Over the last five years, there have been 42,913 criminal convictions for impaired driving in Alberta (April 1, 2009 – March 31, 2014).

The effects of impaired driving are massive. Not only from the perspective of the victims and families who lives will never be the same, but the impaired driver can face license suspensions, criminal charges, fines and possible imprisonment. It’s not worth the risk, plan ahead.

Can you go to jail for drinking & driving in Canada?

One of the first reported criminal cases regarding drinking and driving in Canada was an Alberta decision in 1920 called R. v. Nickle. … The minimum penalty for the first offence was seven days in jail. The minimum penalty for the second offence was one month in jail. The consequences of drinking and driving are much more severe in todays society.

What is a standard drink in Canada?

One Standard Drink Equals: 341 ml (12 oz) bottle of 5% alcohol beer, cider or cooler. 43 ml (1.5 oz) shot of 40% hard liquor (vodka, rum, whisky, gin etc.) 142 ml (5oz) glass of 12% wine.

How long does it take for 1 standard drink to leave your system?

The short answer to how long does alcohol stays in your system is one hour per one ounce of alcohol consumed. The liver processes one ounce of pure alcohol in sixty minutes, on average, and a standard drink contains 0.6 ounces of alcohol.

How many glasses of wine can I drink and drive?

As a rule of thumb, two pints of regular-strength lager or two small glasses of wine would put you over the limit. But this isn’t a catch-all rule. Factors like your weight, sex, metabolism and how much you’ve eaten all contribute to how your body processes alcohol, so everyone has different limits.

Alcohol 101 and Kids

If your child wants to cut back on or stop using alcohol or drugs and needs some support, encourage your child to talk to someone he or she trusts. That person might be you or someone else in your family, your doctor, a school counsellor, an adult relative, a minister or clergy member, or a friend’s parents. Or your child might find it helpful to call a helpline and talk to someone about his or her alcohol or drug use. Some schools have programs for students that provide support and alcohol and drug education.

If you’re worried that your child is having a hard time cutting back on or stopping alcohol or drugs on his or her own, talk with your doctor. This is especially important if your child is having withdrawal symptoms when he or she tries to cut back on or stop using alcohol or drugs. Symptoms of withdrawal may include sweating and feeling sick to the stomach, feeling shaky, and feeling anxious.

Talk to your doctor about whether your child may need treatment. You and your doctor can decide what treatment approach is best for your child.

Young people use these substances for many of the same reasons that adults do—to relax or feel good. But they may also have other reasons for using substances. For example, they may want to know what it feels like to get high. Or they may want to rebel against their parents or fit in with their friends.

Using alcohol or drugs can affect young people’s general health, physical growth, and emotional and social development. It can also change how well they make decisions, how well they think, and how quickly they can react. And using alcohol or drugs can make it hard for young people to control their actions. For some young people, alcohol or drug use may turn into a substance use problem.

Parents can play a key part in teaching their children about alcohol and drug use by talking honestly and openly about the effects that alcohol and drugs can have on their children’s health, schoolwork, and relationships.

Impaired Penalties in Canada

Impaired driving is a serious crime that poses a significant threat to public safety. Having the prohibited level of alcohol, THC, or other impairing drugs in your blood within two hours of driving is an offence. Penalties for committing this conduct can vary, depending on the alcohol or drug concentration, whether it is your first or a repeated offence, and whether you have caused bodily harm or death to another person.

Mandatory alcohol screening

Police officers can demand that any lawfully-stopped driver provide a preliminary breath sample to test for alcohol without reasonable suspicion that the driver has alcohol in their body.