The excellent article on drink-driving legislation (TMIS, 8 August) was marred by a grievous error towards the end, which may have serious repercussions on readers who believe that what they read in newspapers carries the imprimatur of accuracy.

It is absolutely and utterly wrong to state that the current allowable BAC of 80mgs alcohol “generally speaking, allows for the consumption of four pints, eight pub measures of spirits or eight small glasses of wine for people who intend to drive”.

One unit of alcohol (eight grams or 10mls of absolute alcohol) translates into 15mgs of alcohol per decilitre of blood in an average-sized male. However, there are number of factors (such as gender, and weight) that complicate the issue to the extent that one unit of alcohol may increase the level of alcohol in the blood to 30 mgs/dec of blood in a slightly-built woman.

The amounts cited in the article would raise the level of alcohol in the blood to above the legal limit even in a Colossus!

As stated in the article, even small amounts, well with the legal limit, impair people’s ability to drive to the extent that the chances of accidents are multiplied. The intelligent reader will deduce without difficulty that, in the context of driving, the only safe limit is 0.

Manuel Mangani