Many motorists do not see a problem in drinking non-alcoholic beer. They equate it to ordinary soda or kvass. Moreover, such drivers will always answer in the affirmative the question of whether it is possible to drink non-alcoholic beer while driving .
Verification
In order to figure out what can be consumed while driving a vehicle, you need to find out how certain drinks affect the body. This can only be done empirically.
Fans of the experiments conducted a study during which people drank drinks of different strengths. After that, their condition was assessed by a specialist - a narcologist, and alcohol concentrations in the exhaled air were measured using a gas analyzer. For reliability, the study used kvass - 1.5 l, apple juice - 1 l, non-alcoholic beer of two brands with the indicated alcohol content of 0.5% and 0.34% - 2 l each, the fermented milk product koumiss with the stated strength of 3% - 1 liter
Action tactics
To find out whether it is possible to drive after non-alcoholic beer, five participants were given a half to drink from the volume of drinks purchased. At the same time, they were randomly distributed between them. Someone had to drink juice, and someone had to drink beer.
10 minutes after the set volume was drunk, the subjects were examined. For half an hour they consumed:
- the first person - 0.5 liters of juice,
- the second - 1 liter of non-alcoholic beer with a strength of 0.34%,
- the third - 1 liter of beer with a strength of 0.5%,
- the fourth - 0.7 l kvass,
- fifth - 0.5 liters of koumiss.
The survey found that they were all sober. The gas analyzer showed 0.0 ppm.
Continuation of the experiment
But many need to know how much you can drink non-alcoholic beer while driving. Therefore, the experimenters did not stop, having obtained the indicated results. They simply gave the subjects a one-hour respite. After her for another 40 minutes they had to drink all that was left.
This time, the check was done immediately after the last sip. It is such a study that makes it possible to understand what will happen if you drink non-alcoholic beer while driving. This time the gas analyzer reported that 3 subjects under a degree. The most intoxicated was the one who drank koumiss. In vapors of exhaled air, 1.05 ppm was recorded. In second place was a man who drank 2 liters of non-alcoholic beer with a strength of up to 0.5%. His gas analyzer showed 0.11 ppm. The top three were closed by a man who got 2 liters of beer by 0.34% by lot. 0.09 ppm was recorded in air vapor. Rumors that kvass and apple juice also raise degrees were misleading. Men who drank these drinks remained completely sober.
Repeated measurements
To understand how long it is possible to drive after a non-alcoholic beer, the researchers conducted repeated measurements even half an hour after the previous ones. Those who drank kvass and juice did not participate in them, because they were sober. As a result of a survey of the rest, such data were obtained. Fans of the hoppy light drink during this short time managed to sober up. The man who drank koumiss remained a little tipsy. The gas analyzer recorded a reading of 0.15 ppm. As it turned out, the manufacturer was right when he indicated that the strength of this fermented milk drink is 3%.
Knowing this, you can draw conclusions yourself about whether it is possible to drink non-alcoholic beer while driving. During the experiment, it was found that this drink can not be equated with sweet water, juice or kvass. It still contains alcohol, which affects the reaction. But due to its small concentration, a person comes back to normal very quickly.
Narcologist check
In addition to research using a gas analyzer, the subjects were also checked by a professional. He evaluated indicators that may indicate intoxication. In the process of examination, the unsteadiness of the gait, reaction rate, speech coherence were checked, and the appearance was evaluated. The specialist also took into account whether there was a smell from the mouth, checked the respiration rate and pulse, watched the pupils react to light, there was a symptom of trembling of the eyelids, asked to put a finger to the nose with closed eyes.
As a result of such an examination, it was found that, despite the low readings of the gas analyzer, there was still a slight degree of intoxication in people who drank non-alcoholic beer. Men became cheerful by drinking 2 liters of this lightweight version of the hop drink.
But after half an hour they sobered up. To say the same about a man drinking koumiss will not work. The narcologist and at the final stage of the examination diagnosed a mild degree of intoxication. It is undesirable to drive in this state.
Study Features
Trying to find out exactly whether it is possible to drink non-alcoholic beer while driving, the experiment was carried out so that nothing affected its results. At first, the narcologist checked all the subjects. They were allowed to experiment only after the doctor confirmed that they were sober.
In addition, during the experiment they were not allowed to eat or smoke. The latter is justified by the fact that the breathalyzer can negatively affect the presence of nicotine. All semiconductor sensors can respond to cigarette smoke by confusing it with alcohol fumes.
Established standards
Even 3 years ago, the inspector could talk about intoxication if the breathalyzer showed more than 0.00 ppm. But in 2013, the norms changed. It is allowed that in the air exhaled by the driver, there should be 0.16 mg / l, which corresponds to 0.3 ppm of alcohol in the blood. By international standards, this figure should not exceed 0.5 ppm.
Specialists also determine the stage of intoxication depending on the concentration of alcohol vapor. But it should be borne in mind that gas analyzers have a certain error, so they can react even if you decide to just drink non-alcoholic beer while driving. The most reliable testimony is given by a blood test.
So, when determining from 0.2 to 1.2%, they speak of a slight degree of intoxication. If up to 2.2% of alcohol is detected, they put the middle stage. If the gas analyzer shows more than 2.2%, but not more than 2.7%, then the person is very drunk. A severe degree is indicated by indications at the level of up to 4.7%. Higher concentrations are fatal.
Allow or Deny?
Knowing the norms and seeing the results of the experiment, you yourself can conclude
whether it is possible to drink non-alcoholic beer while driving. Given the data from the above study, it seems that drivers should not be prohibited. But do not forget that susceptibility to alcohol is a purely individual reaction. And for someone, 2 liters of even non-alcoholic beer can be a critical dose. After all, the narcologist was diagnosed with “mild intoxication” for those people who consumed the indicated amount of this drink.
Before deciding whether it is allowed to drink non-alcoholic beer while driving, keep in mind that it can still affect concentration and speed of reaction. And this means that you can become the culprit of the accident. And believe me, even a small amount of alcohol found as a result of the examination will not do you any good. So is it worth the risk? Moreover, beer lovers claim that the non-alcoholic version is much worse than the original.
Drink features
To make it clear exactly whether it is worth and if you can drink non-alcoholic beer while driving, you need to understand how it is received. Do not think that this is a regular soda with flavors. In fact, it is made in the same way as a regular intoxicated drink. The process begins with the germination of cereals, their drying, grinding. The resulting powder is poured with water and wort is obtained. Yeast is already being added to it and they are waiting for the fermentation process to take place. In the process, the sugar found in cereals is converted to carbon dioxide and alcohol.
To obtain a soft drink, it is continued to be processed. The resulting mixture was filtered and the alcohol in it was evaporated. But current technology does not allow for a complete cleanup. Therefore, even in the so-called non-alcoholic beer, a certain amount of alcohol is still present.
Survey Procedure
Before you get ready to drink non-alcoholic beer while driving, you need to know that when you drink it, the characteristic smell of this intoxicating drink may remain. Therefore, the inspector has the right to refer you for examination to a special expert center.
There, the driver can be examined by a narcologist, who will determine by clinical signs whether there are signs of alcohol consumption. Also, the doctor can say what stage of intoxication in the face.
In addition, for confirmation, a specialist can conduct an express diagnosis or do laboratory tests. For analysis, blood, saliva or urine is used, depending on the capabilities and equipment located in the expert center.
The results of the examination are entered into a special protocol, which is issued to the person accompanying the brought driver. The person who was examined can get acquainted with the conclusion of the narcologist.
Evaluation of the results
It often turns out that drivers disagree with the conclusion and continue to claim that they were sober. In this case, there is no point in swearing. It’s better to declare that you want to conduct a re-examination. But remember that this must be done within 2 hours from the moment you were detained. If more time passes, the results of the examination will be invalid.
To repeat the procedure, you must write a separate statement. Repeated examination is carried out by another specialist, he can also conduct laboratory tests if necessary.
If the inspector smells, which may be present even with the use of the lighter version of the intoxicated drink, then he has the right to send you for examination. Therefore, before deciding whether non-alcoholic beer can be driven, think again. Perhaps the examination will show that you are absolutely sober. After all, most likely, while you reach the expert center, all vapors of alcohol will already disappear. But at the same time you spend your time and nerves.
But everyone has the right to decide for himself whether he would like additional problems from the dubious pleasure that he will receive when drinking non-alcoholic beer.