A social media experiment has delivered a stark warning to motorists about how little alcohol it can take to exceed the legal drink-drive limit. TikTok creator James Palmer-Rimmer, known for content about spirits, demonstrated the effects of consuming just two pints of Stella Artois lager.
The Two-Pint Test: A Sobering Result
Responding to follower requests, Palmer-Rimmer focused on the popular Belgian beer, which has an alcohol by volume (ABV) of 4.6 per cent. In a video shared on TikTok, he drank two pints and then waited between 20 and 30 minutes before using a personal breathalyser.
He explained the legal thresholds, noting that in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the limit is 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. This is often referred to as a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08%. He corrected himself on screen, stating the breathalyser reading should be 0.008 or lower to be legal.
"Anything higher than that then I'm over the limit," he said. He also highlighted the stricter law in Scotland, where the limit is 22 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath (a BAC of 0.05%, or 0.005 on the device).
After blowing into the device, the reading was clear: 0.014. "We wanted that to be 0.008, so I am over the limit, I can't drive," Palmer-Rimmer declared. "So two pints of Stella put me over the limit."
Understanding the UK's Drink-Drive Laws
The experiment underscores the variance in drink-drive limits across the UK. The legal maximums are as follows:
In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, it is illegal to drive with more than:
- 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath.
- 80 milligrammes of alcohol per 100ml of blood.
- 107 milligrammes of alcohol per 100ml of urine.
Scotland enforces stricter laws, with lower limits of:
- 22 micrograms per 100ml of breath.
- 50 milligrammes per 100ml of blood.
- 67 milligrammes per 100ml of urine.
Senior police chiefs have advocated for aligning the rules in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland with Scotland's tougher stance.
The Harsh Reality and Severe Penalties
This personal test aligns with grim national statistics. The RAC reported that in 2024, there were an estimated 4,620 alcohol-related collisions on UK roads. These crashes resulted in approximately 6,800 injuries and between 290 and 320 deaths.
Experts consistently warn that counting units of alcohol is an unreliable method for determining fitness to drive. Individual factors like weight, age, metabolism, sex, food intake, and stress levels all affect how alcohol is processed.
The consequences of being caught drink-driving are severe and can include:
- A minimum 12-month driving ban.
- An unlimited fine.
- Up to six months in prison.
- A criminal record.
For those convicted of causing death by careless driving under the influence, the penalties are even more extreme, potentially involving life imprisonment, an unlimited fine, and a driving ban of at least five years.
James Palmer-Rimmer's simple question to his viewers—"What are you gonna do with that piece of information?"—serves as a powerful reminder that when it comes to drinking and driving, the only safe limit is zero.
