"Drunk" is usually defined by the what the person in question is doing.... such as driving. Or at least the consequences of 'being drunk'. And of course, the numbers are rather arbitrary but hey, they have to set the line somewhere. Drunk driving in the US is usually defined as 0.08% blood alcohol content, unless one possesses a commercial driver's license (CDL), at which point drunk occurs at 0.04% BAL (even if driving a regular car that does NOT require a CDL in the first place). The FAA claims that a commercial pilot is drunk also at 0.04% but adds the additional restriction that the pilot cannot have consumed ANY alcohol w/in the 8 hours before going on duty (not actually flying).
As I said, someone has to set a somewhat arbitrary line somewhere that hopefully makes sense. And it all depends on what society (or at least those setting the rules) whats to define and how draconian they are- after all, one could make a reasonably valid argument that one should not operate machinery, perform surgery, etc., etc. with any detectable amount of a debilitating substance in him / her. I am not suggesting that, merely saying that it could be reasonably be argued as a rational position.
Honestly, at this time, I believe cell phones and young people having little- to- no respect for or awareness of their surrounds while driving poses a bigger problem than probably all the state altering drugs of all types in drivers. It is frankly amazing to me to watch how cavalier some young people, and it seems to be more females than males in my own observations, drive as though they were the only ones in the world to do so- honestly, doing 40+ MPH in a parking lot, between rows of cars and pedestrians...... how did you think that was going to turn out?
Gallagher had it right decades ago: the manufactures of cars should take the airbag out from the driver's steering wheel and replace it with a machete. It would not solve the problem but it would assure the major damage almost always arrives in the correct location.
but only sorta'
Brian
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I think drunk is in the eye of the breathalyzer.
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