Cycling after a few drinks

[TC99]

I do do this. If I am rotten I will fold up and get public transport but often just take it slowly after a long and drunken lunch. The police can't breathalyse me no? What could they do? I have a very good no crash record BTW.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Police have no power to breathalyse you, as you’re not in control of a motor vehicle. They could, if your inebriation was bad enough to the point you were unfit to ride, report you for that. It would be based on their assessment of your level of impairment.

You wouldn’t be at risk of any points on a licence, only a fine.

 

[spen666]

Charge you for drunk in charge of a bicycle - no need for a breathalyser - the driving offences are twofold - drunk in charge of a conveyance or driving over prescribed limit?

Drunk and disorderly - if you were disorderly

Cycling without due care and attention aka careless cycling


None of above offences carry points on licence

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Charge you for drunk in charge of a bicycle - no need for a breathalyser - the driving offences are twofold - drunk in charge of a conveyance or driving over prescribed limit?

There’s no prescribed limit in relation to cycling, only in relation to motor vehicles.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Road Traffic Act A person who, when riding a cycle on a road or other public place, is unfit to ride through drink or drugs (that is to say, is under the influence of drink or a drug to such an extent as to be incapable of having proper control of the cycle) is guilty of an offence.

It's a separate offence from drink driving. You won't get points on your licence. I don't know if they can require a sample/breath test or whether they just rely on witness evidence that you were weaving all over the place shouting "You're me best mate!" and/or "Who are you looking at!"

Interesting that phrase "any other public place". Reminds me of the time a friend was pulled over by the transport police when riding across the forecourt at Paddington station. "Have you been drinking?" they asked. My friend, being full of bonhomie, immediately decided that the officers were his best mates and replied "Yeah! Loads!". They just asked him to stop riding on the station and sent him on his cheerful way.

 

[fossyant]

Depends on how 'drunk' you are - probably badly advised, especially if near any traffic ! It was quite funny watching a bloke who had 'fallen' off his bike, try and pick himself up (drunk) from the grass verge on New Years Day morning as I cycled to meet friends for a ride.

 

[Alex321]

I would probably cycle after a couple of drinks, which would put me over the drink-drive limit, but certainly not after much more than that.

 

[fossyant]

I've done it when we've been at the caravan, had a ride down the NCN (no roads), stopped at a pub for a couple of pints and lunch, then ridden back. Just not worth it if you are planning a number of pints..

 

[CentralCommuter]

Just walk, mad man!

 

[Drago]

Why would the dibble want to breathalyse you when there's no stated legal limit for cycling?

If you have any respect for your own safety and those around you then you wouldn't even consider doing so anyway.

 

[Gwylan]

I couldn't possibly comment.

 

[Ian H]

The Wednesday pubruns are a feature in various places. Bikes and (moderate) alcohol go very well together.

 

[straas]

If I can walk, I can ride

 

[recumbentpanda]

An uncle of mine back in the early 50s had come down from up north to tour the West Country. One hot and thirsty afternoon, he paused at a tiny wayside public house whose only beverage was scrumpy. He ordered a pint, and downed the delicious apple juice in short order, watched from the shadows by ancient locals with glittering eyes. Thanking the bar tender, he went back outside duly refreshed, remounted his bike and pedalled off. The following morning he awoke around dawn, lying in a roadside ditch, about twenty yards from the pub.

Had he known, the pub was probably one of those with a vat in an outhouse out the back into which a dead rat or a rotten leg of beef was suspended on a piece of string to encourage fermentation. . .

 

[TC99]

An uncle of mine back in the early 50s had come down from up north to tour the West Country. One hot and thirsty afternoon, he paused at a tiny wayside public house whose only beverage was scrumpy. He ordered a pint, and downed the delicious apple juice in short order, watched from the shadows by ancient locals with glittering eyes. Thanking the bar tender, he went back outside duly refreshed, remounted his bike and pedalled off. The following morning he awoke around dawn, lying in a roadside ditch, about twenty yards from the pub.

Had he known, the pub was probably one of those with a vat in an outhouse out the back into which a dead rat or a rotten leg of beef was suspended on a piece of string to encourage fermentation. . .

I make cider and have never had to add a dead animal to the wort. I add all sorts of dead animals to my compost (ha! squirrels). My cider comes out at about 8% and I serve in little glasses and when the guest floats off into their own head they have to leave.