How Long After Drinking?

[CCWInstructor]

.01, No Ccw!

[Harry Carry]

This is that sort of nightmare scenario. Even if you are in the right in using your CCW weapon, you will be presented as a drunk gunslinger if you have even a .01 blood alcohol level.

[naganthunter]

I agree with OC Rancher. 12 Hours.

When I was taking flight training, the rule was 8 hours "bottle to throttle."
However, my flight instructor advised me of studies that show it takes the average person 12 hours to fully metabolize alcohol from the system.

While you may be ok after a few hours, the civil litigation issues are what will sink you. Unless you don't mind living in a box....

[JandJDude]

I just want to thank everyone for their input. Seems like there's a consensus to wait anywhere from 8-12 hours but certainly not any sooner.

Thank you gentlemen

[packnrat]

the dot rules i live under says i can not drive a commercial truck till 12 hours have pased sense the last drink. so this is how i work it with a carry gun.

[calmp9]

Originally Posted by JandJDude

Just curious as to other's opinions here. Obviously you can not CCW when drinking or in certain establisments (CCWI's general rule about age limits being a good rule of thumb.)

My question is, how soon after drinking can one CCW again? Obviously it relates to what and how much you drink.

I present a hypothetical scenario: I go out to dinner with my girlfriend. I plan on having a glass of wine at dinner so I disarm and leave my gun in the car. After dinner we walk back to the car to drive to the theater. Do I re-arm myself? Or do I go the rest of the night without CCWing just to be sure? Would it matter if I had more than one glass of wine? What if I had two beers?

Obviously if you go to a party and are taking tequila body shots off some hot sorority girl's flat stomach, you're not going to be carrying that night and most likely not the next day either. Thankfully I don't do that anymore, if for no other reason than my girlfriend would kick my butt , but the general idea stands.

I'm just curious as to where the line should be drawn when only having a drink or two at dinner.

Comments?

I wouldn't even take the chance. If I drink, that's it for me. That pertains to any firearm handling that I do.

[savagemaxx]

dont drink anymore, so its a non issue for me, however, my permit says "Not valid while consuming alcohol" and I took that to mean also not vailid while under the influence.

[Quiet]

My $0.02,
CCW = designated driver.
You going to drink = no drive and no carry.

[Blackhorse1]

Originally Posted by OCRancher

I don't drink within 12 hours before handling a gun, period. And if I have a headache or feeling a bit sleepy, sick or similar, same deal, I take a nap and wait until I feel normal, or skip the whole thing.

+1

Great point. Sometimes we forget lack of sleep can have the same affect, or worse, as alcohol. Myself, after working a night shift, I like to put the firearm back in my bag for the drive home. I'm usually tired and since having a permit puts us in a whole different league, I don't want to chance anything. If I have to utilize my weapon, I want to make sure I eliminate as many variables as I can that could work against me. Am I unreasonably tired? sick? on medicine? angry? If someone don't feel 100% or has any doubt in their mind, they shouldn't carry; the doubt is probably there for a reason

[newshooterinca]

Originally Posted by CCWInstructor

.01, No Ccw!

That's frightening depending on whether it's a blood or breath test. Blood, fine. Breath, another story. Major accuracy problems and a host of outside influences can throw it off. In fact the city of Scottsdale, Arizona which has a big drunk driving problem recently eliminated breath tests entirely due to the inaccuracy of the machines. They now do blood tests only.