Nigel - I don't speak from personal experience, you understand, but I think I'd rather take the buggery than the back pain! Some people find the former pleasurable. I don't think *anyone* enjoys the latter!

IMHO, all drunk drivers should be charged with Attempted Murder (yes, a car is a lethal weapon, & you *know* whether you're sober or not), & should also have their vehicle confiscated. I've only done it twice, to the best of my knowledge. Both were morning-after-the-night-before's. The first time, many years ago, is a 'possible' - if I was still over the (UK) limit, I certainly never knew it at the time, but took it easy because I wasn't feeling on top form.

The second occasion, I should not have got in the car, but I did & I made the short journey to work in an extremely cautious fashion. I'm not proud of it. As I've said, I should not have done it. But I drove with caution far over & above my normal habits precisely because I knew I was suspect.

Michaelr - were you waiting to be flamed? Wait no longer. You are an irresponsible cretin. Trust you? I wouldn't trust you as far as I could throw you. I can drink. I've downed, by my own estimation, over a hundred units of alcohol in a week (no, I'm neither proud nor ashamed of that, either, it's just something I've done). With the one aberration mentioned above allowed for (an experience I won't repeat, I might add), I will *not* drive a motorised vehicle having drunk more than 2 UK pints, except in a life or death situation (& then only if there is A) no-one more sober & B) with extreme caution).

You, OTOH, are exactly the sort of arrogant, smug, self-interested idiot that leaves people such as Liz with dead relatives. Oh, of course, it wasn't *your* fault... Not *that* time... Not *yet*... But it's far more likely to be you at fault than you as a victim.

A sliding scale has to be the dumbest idea I've ever heard. As if people don't exagerrate their capacity for drink anyway! "Oh, Judge, you can't jail me for that, I normally drink 15 pints every night..." Yeah, right... michaelr - if anyone ever deserved to be shot on sight for sheer stupidity, it's you.

From the man who is A) Extremely drunk but B) only behind a keyboard & not behind a wheel, & C) actually knows when he's making a monumental arse of himself...