happysack:
I do have the odd mid week pint or can or two now…but in the distant past I sometimes woke up wondering which town I was parked in!
Pah, bloody amateur! I’ve often woken up in a totally different town to the one I parked the truck in!
eagerbeaver:
My post wasn’t aimed specifically at you Rob. It was more of a curiosity than anything else. The point being, I have no idea how many cans I could drink and then drive 9 hours or so later, to know what would put me over the limit.But Dolph and Commonrail2 seem to be experts in the field, so I bow to their knowledge.
Me personally, I wait until I am on my weekly rest if I want to have a drink.
Im no expert but I like beer and after 2 liters if I got 7-8hrs sleep Im like new, would love to test the alcohol lever for the experiment of yours. I also never drink between shifts, only when Im on week break.
It seems you are the expert Eager because you think all man are build the same, their bodies absorb alcohol with the same rate, all are affected the same way, what about if the person is tired or hungry, a lot variables?
Well we are not the same, you might be OK with several strong British ale that will knock me out, i might me OK from hard liquor while you got drunk from it.
But in the summer nights to have a beer or two and then go to bed is no problem in my book.
As we say here: “Lets not be more catholic then the Pope himself”.
commonrail2:
No normal man would fail a breath test,the morning after 3 or 4 pints.
Hey, don’t interupt this discussion with a commonsense and factual point. Lets carry on and do extremes !!! 
robroy:
eagerbeaver:
Are these breath test jobbies affordable? Might be an idea for anyone who drinks between shifts to give one a try and see what they blow.All very well assuming after a few drinks you are ok to drive, but it would be much better to actually know.
You’re still implying that I am in doubt whether I am safe to drive…I aint
If I was in an element of doubt situation, I would either take extra time off, or not drive…, or both.
So no need for a self test kit in my case.
I tried writing this three different ways and each time it sounded like I was having a go. Trust me, i’m not having a go, it just sounds like it. Here goes:
Someone’s opinion on how safe they are to drive is irrelevant, whether they are under the legal limit is. If a little piece of kit keeps you legal (and and your licence in your wallet) why not use it?
TBH I’m surprised they’re not built into trucks already where you have to provide a sample of breath before the truck starts.
Glad you get the point Cavey!
eagerbeaver:
Thing is Dri- would you be happy to blow into a test at 08.00?Because if you blow over, you are illegal to drive, simples. Plus you would probably get sacked. Why take the risk?
Yes I would blow without hesitation! 3 cans equates to about 2 and a bit pints. I just like the chill and taste, I get drunk at weekend 
eagerbeaver:
Glad you get the point Cavey!
Nope, I still think you should be stoned at dawn! 
I would have no issue with such a system that was set somewhere close to the legal limit to enable the truck to start, but I would have an issue if data on the sample was recorded! That would be an erosion of our civil liberties to me. It wouldn’t be 5 seconds before HR and management were sticking their noses in that data, and another step towards being treated like a robot/join of pork!
Yes an argument could be made that records/alerts of failed attempts could/should be recorded for safety reasons, but I still fear that could be the thin end of a wedge! 
Evil8Beezle:
eagerbeaver:
Glad you get the point Cavey!Nope, I still think you should be stoned at dawn!
I would have no issue with such a system that was set somewhere close to the legal limit to enable the truck to start, but I would have an issue if data on the sample was recorded! That would be an erosion of our civil liberties to me. It wouldn’t be 5 seconds before HR and management were sticking their noses in that data, and another step towards being treated like a robot/join of pork!
Yes an argument could be made that records/alerts of failed attempts could/should be recorded for safety reasons, but I still fear that could be the thin end of a wedge!
Driver’s erosion of civil liberties? trackers…cameras…and all the rest of the crap?
Reckon that ship has already sailed mate. 
What you are on about is better described as one of the last few nails in the coffin of ‘the job’
I’m sure I could handle more alcohol in my youth.
Last Friday for example the dragon and I went out to friends surprise 50th, I consumed over a bottle of Vodka and was wrecked both Saturday and part of Sunday.
In my younger years I would have been right back on it Saturday night.
Luckily even after a skinfull I can still perform, unfortunately the wife fell asleep during penetration so I did the gentlemanly thing and jizzed on her face. We aren’t yet back on speaking terms but I do have a picture for my memoirs.
robroy:
Driver’s erosion of civil liberties? trackers…cameras…and all the rest of the crap?
Reckon that ship has already sailed mate.
What you are on about is better described as one of the last few nails in the coffin of ‘the job’
To a degree, but camera’s and tracker’s are while you are working and harder to argue against.
This point to me is more about what I do in my free time! 
Might be worth you looking at the drinking in Scotland thread Evil.
22 micrograms blown for ONE pint.
I did see that, and my point isn’t about being able to drink. It’s about living in a world where we are not overly controlled…
I don’t actually drink during the week normally, but if I was out for the evening and fancied a pint, I don’t see that’s anything to do with my employer the next morning where I could possibly blow a couple of micrograms.
Evil8Beezle:
robroy:
Driver’s erosion of civil liberties? trackers…cameras…and all the rest of the crap?
Reckon that ship has already sailed mate.
What you are on about is better described as one of the last few nails in the coffin of ‘the job’To a degree, but camera’s and tracker’s are while you are working and harder to argue against.
This point to me is more about what I do in my free time!
But if what you do in your free time might have an impact on your work, why wouldn’t an employer want to check? In these modern times where corporate image is everything, it’s understandable that an employer would want to protect its identity. Let’s be honest, even though you wouldn’t, there are drivers out there who will turn the truck keys whilst drunk. How does an employer know the difference?
I’m not justifying this intrusion into an individuals private life by an employer, just trying to understand it.
Who for trying 4 pint tonight then I’m just about to go and start !!
Captain Caveman 76:
Evil8Beezle:
robroy:
Driver’s erosion of civil liberties? trackers…cameras…and all the rest of the crap?
Reckon that ship has already sailed mate.
What you are on about is better described as one of the last few nails in the coffin of ‘the job’To a degree, but camera’s and tracker’s are while you are working and harder to argue against.
This point to me is more about what I do in my free time!But if what you do in your free time might have an impact on your work, why wouldn’t an employer want to check? In these modern times where corporate image is everything, it’s understandable that an employer would want to protect its identity. Let’s be honest, even though you wouldn’t, there are drivers out there who will turn the truck keys whilst drunk. How does an employer know the difference?
I’m not justifying this intrusion into an individuals private life by an employer, just trying to understand it.
As I said earlier mate, I’ve no issue with being within the law and passing a test to prove I’m legal/safe to drive. It’s anything beyond that I don’t like the sound of. If I blew 15 micrograms I’m legal to drive, and I don’t see that it’s any business of my employer to know if I did or didn’t have a pint or 2 the previous night.
sent via phone
Well I’m on my third can and a chicken casserole cooked in the cab almost ready, sod your personal beliefs, this is mine 
I’ll be in bed by 21:00 and up for a 06:30 start. Chilled, sober and ready for home
I can do better than that. Just had a lovely 8oz rump steak and chips with all the extras, with a pint for under a tenner on a special offer in the pub.
Having another pint then back to cab to start at 7am…into Maccy Ds for a latte and kick off about 7.30.
Stick yer ■■■■ lay by parking up yer arse. 
If pulled and tested by the cops, then we all know what happens if you were to blow over, but what would be the process if you were caught by the H&S officer? I suppose there’d be grounds for dismissal on gross misconduct, but could they call the police and provide a witness statement to that you were attempting to drive under the influence, resulting in a DR10?
I am of the opinion that if a H&S officer were to ask me to provide a breath test, I would be slightly offended that they even thought I would dare to drive whilst potentially over the limit. The word “professional driver” is thrown around a lot these days, but a professional driver would not turn-up to work at 7:00 after getting-in from a night-out three hours earlier. A professional driver would have a couple of cans of beer in the evening, have a good sleep, and be ready for work, fresh as a daisy, and under the limit. You use your own good judgement and common-sense to do the job right. I like to live in a world, and work in a job where there’s free-will, not constantly being watched, breathalysed, filmed…
Again, it’s a trust issue. Much like the in-cab camera debate, the element of trust is truly dwindling. Yet some people still have the “if you’re doing nothing wrong, then you have nothing to fear” type of thinking, and it’s those who would bend-over and take things like mandatory breath tests and in-cab cameras. We’re “professionals”, treat us accordingly!
Rottweiler22:
If pulled and tested by the cops, then we all know what happens if you were to blow over, but what would be the process if you were caught by the H&S officer? I suppose there’d be grounds for dismissal on gross misconduct, but could they call the police and provide a witness statement to that you were attempting to drive under the influence, resulting in a DR10?I am of the opinion that if a H&S officer were to ask me to provide a breath test, I would be slightly offended that they even thought I would dare to drive whilst potentially over the limit. The word “professional driver” is thrown around a lot these days, but a professional driver would not turn-up to work at 7:00 after getting-in from a night-out three hours earlier. A professional driver would have a couple of cans of beer in the evening, have a good sleep, and be ready for work, fresh as a daisy, and under the limit. You use your own good judgement and common-sense to do the job right. I like to live in a world, and work in a job where there’s free-will, not constantly being watched, breathalysed, filmed…
Again, it’s a trust issue. Much like the in-cab camera debate, the element of trust is truly dwindling. Yet some people still have the “if you’re doing nothing wrong, then you have nothing to fear” type of thinking, and it’s those who would bend-over and take things like mandatory breath tests and in-cab cameras. We’re “professionals”, treat us accordingly!
I reckon me and you are on the same wavelength mate.
I would point blank refuse and suggest that if they think I am unfit to drive to ring the Police and tell them so.
If that was not good enough for their over inflated ego, and they refused, (being the arsey bast that I am) I would maybe even ring the Police with an anon tip to say there was a drunk driver at said transport yard in a car.
I would be going nowhere and sit in my own car with engine running until they arrived to breath test me.
Ok I know this is all hypothetical and pie in the sky, not to mention very unlikely to happen, but you get my point, and an indication of how offensive it is to me that my integrity is questioned by a complete ■■■■.
Rottweiler22:
Again, it’s a trust issue. Much like the in-cab camera debate, the element of trust is truly dwindling. Yet some people still have the “if you’re doing nothing wrong, then you have nothing to fear” type of thinking, and it’s those who would bend-over and take things like mandatory breath tests and in-cab cameras. We’re “professionals”, treat us accordingly!
How does a company tell us professionals from the ■■■■■■■■ I’m a professional driver and quite happy to prove it.