Alcohol testing program in Queensland demonstrates alcohol has different effects on different people
Ten Queenslanders in Rockhampton have spent a night on the tiles all for the sake of research and to demonstrate the different effects alcohol can have on different people.
The 10 participants covering a range of ages drank moderate amounts of alcohol over the course of three hours, while undergoing alcohol testing every 30 minutes. Each participant drank a different alcoholic beverage.
The program was watched over by several people, including staff members from the Department of Transport and Main Roads. Alcohol testing was carried out by members of Queensland Police, based at North Rockhampton.
By the end of the three hours, alcohol testing showed a range of blood alcohol levels, ranging from 0.042 – just under the legal limit – to 0.073.
Coincidently, the highest reading came from a person who drank red wine. The male had participated in several similar events in the past and had never recorded a reading this high.
“It just goes to show once again that it doesn’t matter what your age is, what your sex is, what your build is, alcohol affects different people in different ways,” said one of the participants in a CQ Today article.
Drink Rite Queensland
The event combined with alcohol testing may sound somewhat, well boozy, but there’s a serious message. The event was held as part of Queensland’s Drink Rite program.
Rite events, as they are called, are usually held in a licensed premises and supervised by Queensland Police Service officers. Like in the case in Rockhampton, participants drink alcohol while undergoing regular alcohol testing by a police officer. This allows the participants and those in the venue to see first-hand the results of drinking on participants’ alcohol testing results.
Drink Rite helps people learn about the alcohol content of different drinks, what makes a standard drink and the effect on drinkers. It demonstrates how different the effect of alcohol can be from person to person. It also categorically shows that guessing your own alcohol concentration level is very difficult and why alcohol and driving don’t mix.
Here are some tips from Drink Rite on having a good night out when alcohol is in the mix:
- Keep track of how much you drink.
- Start with a non-alcoholic drink or have a non-alcoholic drink in between other drinks.
- Eat food before and during drinking.
- Drink slowly.
- Avoid drink top ups, rounds or shouts.
- Choose low alcoholic beverages.
- Look after your friends and watch your drinks at all times to ensure they are not tampered with.
- Most importantly, never drink and drive. Alcohol is a contributing factor in 34% of road deaths on Queensland roads every year.
- Even small amounts of alcohol can increase your risk of being in a road accident.
- At 0.01 you are almost five times as likely to be in a crash.
Sobering thoughts!
FEATURED IMAGE CAPTION:
A group of Queenslanders have spent a night out drinking while being alcohol tested, all for the sake of research and education. Credit Fred Moon https://unsplash.com/photos/0yqa0rMCsYk
