When it comes to drinking and driving, many people assume that having as little as one drink can’t hurt. However, the reality is quite different. Even one seemingly harmless drink can have an immense impact on your body and its abilities despite you not actually being drunk.  

While one drink will not get your BAC level as high as the legal limit, the truth is, there is no safe level of alcohol that you can consume when you’re driving. With that in mind, here’s why one drink can be enough to get you in trouble. 

How alcohol consumption affects a person

Sitting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol can be dangerous for a number of reasons. For starters, alcohol affects your cognitive function by reducing your attention and your perception of distance. It also impacts your motor function, which can result in slower reaction times and poor coordination. 

Of course, how alcohol consumption affects a person depends on several factors. For instance, some people may get drunk faster than others depending on their weight and whether or not they were drinking on an empty stomach. Gender also plays a role here. For women, reaching the legal BAC limit is equal to consuming two alcoholic drinks. Men can drink double the amount of alcohol compared to women in order to reach the BAC level of 0.08%, which is the legal limit in all states except Utah. All in all, once you consider just how little it takes to get drunk, it may change your perspective on alcohol consumption completely.

The legal consequences of being charged with drunk driving 

The thing about drunk driving is, even the slightest mistake can lead to serious legal consequences. Not only is being charged with a DWAI or driving while ability impaired quite inconvenient, but it also brings a host of legal implications even if you do prove your innocence. Depending on the severity of the case, you may be expected to pay a fine, attend DUI classes, and pay a reinstatement fee. You can also expect attorney fees, a jail term, as well as significantly higher annual insurance costs. 

Not to mention, a drunk driver may end up harming other people, which could also lead to high medical costs if they or someone else end up getting injured due to an accident. Other times, the outcomes of alcohol-impaired driving might be fatal. 

Alcohol tests and false positive readings

A police officer may pull you over when they suspect you to be driving under the influence or when you are showing clear signs of intoxication. When that happens, they will rely on a test to help determine your blood alcohol level. They typically use a breathalyzer because it is quick and reliable. 

That said, this type of test may result in false positive readings in cases where the driver has consumed alcohol in moments prior to being pulled over. This typically happens due to the alcohol residue in the mouth that gets picked up by the breathalyzer. Even if it is just one single drink, it can be enough for you to get you charged with a DWI and put you at risk for a car crash.

Why one-drink rule doesn’t work

Although many people think of the one-drink rule as a guide, it really isn’t something to rely on. This is because a high blood alcohol concentration or BAC isn’t the only thing that can result in a DWI charge. You could also get charged with drunk driving if the police officer who pulled you over proves that your mental and physical faculties were compromised at the time of the DWI stop. 

Of course, a driver who has been drinking may put an effort into appearing normal despite having high BAC. But even if their blood alcohol concentration level is below 0.08%, their faculties still matter. If they’re pulled over due to speeding or some other reckless behavior, their compromised mental and physical faculties can lead to a DWI arrest. 

One drink is too many, and it’s simply not worth the risk 

As harmless as it seems, one drink can still manage to land you in trouble, especially if you end up hurting somebody. Of course, the temptation of enjoying a refreshing alcoholic beverage after a long day can be hard to resist. Still, it’s better to be safe than sorry, and you can play it safe either by refusing alcohol or simply not driving when you do decide to drink.