Regulation and freedom to act
Alcohol is a legal product whose production, distribution and use are regulated by specific measures, justified by the fact that health and social problems (road accidents, domestic violence, alcohol-related morbidity...) are linked to alcohol consumption. The decree-law of November 14 1939 defines the conditions for the repression of drunkenness. Some communes, such as Liège, have also adopted additional regulations on the consumption, sale and distribution of alcohol on public thoroughfares.
Regulations governing the sale of alcoholic beverages are based on a classification of beverages (distilled, fermented). These regulations apply to all drinking establishments where alcohol is consumed on the premises. Serving alcohol to a minor is forbidden, as is serving alcohol to a person who is already obviously drunk.
Everyone must show tolerance and mutual respect. "Holding your liquor" is often a misleading sensation, because despite the absence ofdrunkenness, the long-term effects are well and truly present. In the case of regular drinkers who feel they can tolerate alcohol easily, the risk of dependence exists. Several factors also come into play.
Drinking and driving
In Belgium, it is forbidden to drive while intoxicated (i.e. not in control of one's movements) or under the influence of alcohol (i.e. with an alcohol level exceeding 0.5 g per liter of blood or 0.25 mg of alcohol per liter of exhaled air). Police checks verify whether or not a person is under the influence of alcohol, as alcohol is present in the blood and in the exhaled air. Thus, if a person has consumed alcohol (excessively), he or she must pay the consequences. =>Penalties when the authorized blood alcohol level is exceeded.
0.5 g per liter of blood is only two glasses! Alcohol is harmful, even if you don't feel the effects, even if you're not drunk or addicted. With an alcohol level of 0.5 g per liter, the risk of a fatal accident is multiplied by 2.5, even though you don't feel dangerous! This risk is multiplied by 4.5 with a level of 0.8 g per liter, and by 16 with a level of 1.5 g per liter... Alcohol (above 0.5 g per liter) plays a role in 19% of all bodily injury accidents and 22% of all accidents resulting in death or serious injury. Many people consider themselves fit to drive as long as they don't feel drunk. They mistakenly think that after three or four drinks, alcohol still has no influence on their behavior... However, the effects of alcohol are already apparent at 0.5 g/l (alcohol): altered perception (people are less quick to notice traffic elements such as pedestrians, cyclists, side streets...), slower reaction of the eyes, which remain fixed on certain objects for longer, reduced field of vision (people look straight ahead and not to the side), double vision, poor distance assessment, zigzagging, increased reaction time and reduced reflexes, risk of drowsiness, reduced inhibitions and increased risk-taking by the driver.
