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Love the nightlife in Virginia but DUI not so much?

On Behalf of | Jul 26, 2018 | DUI

It’s fun to get together with friends after a long, stressful work week to kick back and relax in your free time. Virginia has a vibrant nightlife, especially in the hub of regions that are close to the nation’s capital. If you are age 21 or older, you can toss back a couple cold beers, glasses of wine or other alcohol without worrying about legal repercussions; that is, unless you later plan to drive a motor vehicle the same night.  

That’s another issue altogether. Like most responsible residents of Virginia, the law trusts you to make good decisions regarding alcohol intake and operation of a motor vehicle. It’s easy to lose track of how many drinks you’ve had when you’re partying with friends. There are several things you can do to avoid drunk driving, which in turn should help you avoid a DUI conviction.  

Remember that Breathalyzers can’t differentiate  

You may have heard it’s better to drink one type of alcohol over another, such as beer instead of wine or vice versa in order to have less alcohol in your system, especially if you have to drive home. If a police officer wants to determine if there’s probable cause to arrest you, a breath test may be the chosen means for doing so, in which case, it matters not which type of alcohol you drank because a breath test detects any and all alcohol on your breath regardless of type. 

Blood alcohol content continues to rise  

Just as food continues to cook for a short time after removing it from an oven, your blood alcohol content level continues to rise even after you stop drinking. Remembering this can help you stay safe and out of jail.  

Food consumption slows alcohol absorption 

Eating while drinking is a good way to avoid intoxication. The intake of food into your system helps slow the absorption of alcohol into your body. In fact, consuming food with alcohol is always better than drinking without eating if your goal is to stay legally sober so you can safely drive a car, if needed.  

Sipping and spacing are better than drinking games 

It’s no secret that drinking parties can get a bit wild at times. You can avoid drunk driving if you sip your drinks and space them out by 90 minutes or more. Drinking games often result in intoxication.  

Facing DUI charges 

If you find yourself facing DUI charges, try to remain calm and know where to seek support to protect your rights and increase your chances of avoiding conviction.  

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