Originally Posted By: qwerty1234
wolf, do you believe alcoholism is a real disease?
I hope this doesn't turn political, because this is a good discussion so far, and it was good that you brought it up. Here in Canada, the big thing is the suspensions. The fines can be very high, and jail time is possible, but the suspensions and the hoops to get one's license back is the big issue, and it's only gotten stricter over the years.
With respect to the disease portion, I'm not so sure. But, I don't consider alcoholism, whatever it is, an excuse for drinking and driving. I had to quit drinking years ago. I've had family and friends that were raging alcoholics. One of them is a consistent drunk driver, and he won't stop until he kills himself or someone else. The other two wouldn't get behind the wheel of a vehicle under the influence if you pointed a gun at them. They simply drank wherever they were and didn't see any need to get behind the wheel.
With respect to the limit of .08 and whether or not one thinks it's suitable, it certainly is suitable. At that point, motor skills are diminished in a significant portion of the population. Some people are blitzed at .08, while a seasoned drunk can go a lot higher than that without looking "that bad."
As an aside, new drivers here can have no alcohol register in their system when behind the wheel. In this province, if they do, they face an immediate 30 day roadside suspension, plus other consequences.