Alcohol

Risks of drinking before driving

  • Poor eyesight
  • Slow or clumsy movement 
  • Forgetfulness
  • Swerving or drifting on the road
  • Arrests, injury, or even death

If you plan to drink alcohol

Round blue background with "1" in white
Round blue background with "2+" in white
Round blue background with a Marijuana leaf in white

If you have one drink

Wait at least 1-1.5 hours before driving.  Even a small amount of alcohol can impair driving.  If you are unsure, wait.

 

If you have 2+ drinks

Get a ride from a friend, take the bus, or order a ride share.

 

 

If you have alcohol and THC together

Do not drive at all.  Even the smallest amount of using both can significantly impair driving.

 

Driving requires full coordination

Vehicle with front end smashed in from a collision, police lights in the background
  • Create a plan to get home
  • When in doubt, do not operate a vehicle
  • Hand your keys to a trustworthy person who is not drinking
  • If no one is sober, use a rideshare service, like a Taxi, Uber, or Lyft

The Bottom Line

When in doubt, do not operate a vehicle.  The length of impairment varies, by person, dose, and product purity.

Vision Zero Program logo for Madison, WI
Was this page helpful to you? * required