A recent Facebook post from South Australia Police served as a stark reminder that when it comes to taking risks with alcohol on the roads, there are some drivers who are ready, willing and able. It also reminds drivers that if they do drink drive, police are ready to catch them with alcohol testing.
The post detailed an incident in the Adelaide suburb of Seaton where police stopped a Hyundai sedan driving erratically. The driver, a 26-year-old Seaton man, blew an astonishing 0.221 breath alcohol concentration. This is more than four times the legal limit for a fully licensed driver in Australia. He faced immediate licence loss, vehicle impoundment, and a future court summons.
This incident prompted us at Integrity Sampling to ask: just how high can your blood alcohol go, and what happens to our bodies and safety as those levels rise? Understanding these effects is crucial, not just for road safety, but for workplace safety across South Australia.
Understanding Breath Alcohol Concentration
Breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) is a measure of the amount of alcohol in your blood, expressed as grams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. In Australia, the legal limit for most drivers is 0.05. For learner, provisional, and many commercial drivers, the limit is 0.00.
Let’s break down what happens as BrAC levels increase:
0.00 – 0.04: The Beginning of Impairment
Even at very low levels, alcohol starts to affect your body. You might feel a mild sense of relaxation or euphoria. However, your judgment and concentration can already be subtly impaired. Reaction times might slow down. This is why even a small amount of alcohol can be dangerous, especially when driving or operating machinery.
0.05: The Legal Limit and Beyond
At 0.05, the legal limit for most Australian drivers, your risk of a car crash roughly doubles compared to having no alcohol in your system. You might experience:
- Reduced inhibitions
- Minor impairment of judgment and memory
- Slower reaction times
- Some loss of fine motor skills
You might feel fine, but your ability to concentrate and react quickly is reduced. This is why the 0.05 limit exists – it’s where the risk significantly increases.
0.08 – 0.10: Significant Impairment
At this level, signs of intoxication become much more obvious. Your coordination and balance worsen. You might experience:
- Slurred speech
- Impaired vision and hearing
- Emotional swings, potentially including aggression
- Significantly reduced judgment and self-control
Driving at this level is incredibly dangerous, and the legal penalties become much more severe. Your ability to detect hazards and respond appropriately is severely compromised.
0.15: High Risk
Reaching 0.15 puts you in a very high-risk category. At this stage, your physical and mental functions are highly impaired:
- Clear slurred speech
- Significantly impaired balance and coordination; you may struggle to walk without assistance
- Nausea and vomiting are likely
- Emotions become unstable
- Memory trouble and potential blackouts can occur
- Loss of bladder control is possible
A person at this level is a danger to themselves and others, whether on the road or in any other setting that requires even basic function.
0.20 – 0.25: Severe Intoxication – The Danger Zone
The Seaton driver was at 0.221, firmly in this extremely dangerous range. At 0.20, people enter what’s sometimes called the “blackout drunk” stage. Here’s what happens:
- Complete disorientation and confusion
- Inability to move properly; significant loss of physical coordination
- Vomiting is common, and there’s a serious risk of choking on vomit
- Dulled pain perception, meaning severe injuries might not be felt
- Protective reflexes begin to shut down
- High risk of loss of consciousness
At 0.221, the driver was profoundly intoxicated. Their ability to perceive danger, control a vehicle, or make rational decisions was virtually non-existent. The fact they were even able to drive, albeit erratically, is alarming.
0.30 and Above: Life-Threatening Levels
Beyond 0.30, you are in a “drunken stupor.”
- Total loss of mental and motor function
- Difficulty waking up; potential for coma
- Increased risk of respiratory depression (breathing slowing to dangerous levels)
- Significant risk of alcohol poisoning, which can be fatal
Levels above 0.40 are often considered lethal. Alcohol is a depressant; at these extreme levels, it can cause the body’s vital functions, like breathing and heart rate, to slow to the point of failure.
Beyond the Road: Alcohol Testing in South Australian Workplaces
While such poor decisions with alcohol are tragically witnessed on our roads, they are also evident in South Australian workplaces. The effects of alcohol – impaired judgment, slowed reaction times, reduced coordination, and decreased awareness – are just as dangerous, if not more so, when operating machinery, working at heights, or simply making critical decisions in an office environment.
This highlights the immense value of conducting alcohol testing in South Australian workplaces. Regular, random, or post-incident alcohol testing helps to:
- Ensure Safety: Protects employees from harm caused by impaired colleagues.
- Maintain Productivity: Reduces errors, accidents, and absenteeism linked to alcohol use.
- Meet Compliance: Helps businesses adhere to safety regulations and their duty of care.
- Deter Misuse: Creates a culture of responsibility regarding alcohol consumption.
Integrity Sampling provides comprehensive alcohol testing services in South Australia. We help businesses across the state implement effective drug and alcohol management policies. Our expert teams and state-of-the-art testing equipment ensure accurate and reliable results, helping to create safer, more productive work environments.
Integrity Sampling has locations in South Australia in:
- Adelaide
- Fleurieu Peninsula
- Gawler
- Mount Gambier
- Port Augusta
- Riverland
Don’t wait for an incident to occur. Take proactive steps to protect your workplace and your people. Contact Integrity Sampling in South Australia today to discuss your alcohol testing needs.
FEATURED IMAGE CAPTION:
Roadside alcohol testing in South Australia is an indicator of what is happening on our roads, but what about in South Australia’s workplaces? Credit smalljude https://www.flickr.com/photos/judemasti/5530385671/ (image modified)
