State law establishes a legal threshold for someone to be an intoxicated driver. That said, someone’s BAC could be lower than .08 and may still be unable to operate a vehicle safely. Even one drink could make someone a danger to other drivers on Pennsylvania roads. Ultimately, several factors, including weight, may result in faster intoxication with less alcohol. Age is one such factor, and older people might benefit from avoiding any alcohol before driving.
Age and alcohol intoxication
The human body undergoes many metabolic changes as a person ages. Not surprisingly, those changes impact the way the system processes alcohol. An older person may become more intoxicated with fewer drinks than a younger person. Ultimately, not drinking before driving seems like the right advice for any age group, but some still choose to operate a vehicle intoxicated.
An older driver may find that age affects reaction time, and reactions might worsen when ingesting alcohol. The same could be true of perceptions, further decreasing the possibility of avoiding an accident.
Older people might suffer from various health issues that require taking medication. Combining alcohol with medication might result in worse intoxication, increasing the risks of an accident.
Drunk driving and consequences
Anyone who causes a drunk driving accident may face a civil lawsuit for property damage and bodily injury. Drunk driving arrests may lead to criminal prosecution and, possibly, the loss of driving privileges. An older person with a history of multiple drunk driving convictions could look at potentially harsh sentencing.
A drunk driving conviction might bring the threat of jail time and fines. Mounting a proper defense or negotiating a plea bargain may lead to a better outcome.