Chart Analysis of Drunk Driving Fines and the Relationship Between Alcohol Concentration and Metabolism

Drunk driving is a dangerous and illegal act that not only threatens one’s own life but also endangers the lives and property of others.

Therefore, understanding the blood alcohol concentration produced after drinking, as well as the penalties and fines for drunk driving in the Republic of China, is basic knowledge every driver should possess.

Moreover, the author sincerely suggests that anyone with a drunk driving record should be stripped of their political rights and barred from becoming a government official to enjoy the hard-earned tax money of all citizens.

Alcohol Metabolism in the Body

When we drink alcoholic beverages, the alcohol is absorbed through the stomach and small intestine into the bloodstream, then broken down and metabolized by enzymes in the liver.

The rate of alcohol metabolism varies from person to person, affected by factors such as body weight, gender, diet, and genetics.

Generally speaking, the human body can only break down about one alcohol unit (10 grams) per hour; the more you drink, the longer the metabolism takes.

A 600 ml can of Taiwan Beer1 equals an intake of 21 grams of alcohol by weight (equal to 2 alcohol units), and the human body needs a little over 2 hours to fully break it down and metabolize it.

For other alcoholic drinks, such as wine, whiskey, and Kinmen Kaoliang, the amount of alcohol consumed per 100 milliliters (ml) is shown in the table below:

Alcohol type (per 100 ml) Alcohol concentration (%) Alcohol amount (grams) Beer 47 3.25.6 Wine 1113 8.810.4 Whiskey 40 32 Kinmen Kaoliang 50 40 Alcohol concentration comparison table per 100 ml of alcohol

Alcohol Concentration and Drunk Driving Penalties

Alcohol concentration refers to the percentage of alcohol mass per unit volume of blood.

Alcohol concentration can be measured by blood draw or breath test; the former is called blood alcohol concentration (BAC), and the latter is called breath alcohol concentration (BrAC). The ratio between the two is about 1:2100, meaning that the amount of alcohol contained in every 2100 ml of breath is equivalent to the amount of alcohol contained in every 1 ml of blood.

According to Article 35 of the latest 2023 version of the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act of the Republic of China, those who drive (including cars and motorcycles) with an alcohol concentration exceeding the prescribed standard are penalized as follows:

• Motorcycle drivers are fined between NT$15,000 and NT$90,000 (same currency below), and car drivers are fined between NT$30,000 and NT$120,000; their driver’s licenses are suspended for 1-2 years, and the vehicle is impounded.
• If a child under 12 years old is carried or an accident causes injury, the driver’s license is additionally suspended for 2-4 years.
• If it causes serious injury or death, the driver’s license is revoked and may never be re-obtained.

The prescribed standards for alcohol concentration are shown in the table below:

Driver category Blood alcohol concentration (g/L) Breath alcohol concentration (mg/L) General drivers 0.03 0.15 Professional drivers 0.01 0.05 Prescribed alcohol concentration standards

Results and Discussion

Drunk driving is not only illegal but also irresponsible. The alcohol concentration after drinking affects a driver’s reaction, judgment, and coordination, increasing the risk of traffic accidents.

Therefore, we should obey traffic rules and avoid drunk driving to protect our own and others’ lives. If you must drink, be sure to arrange a designated driver or take public transportation, or wait until the alcohol is fully metabolized before driving. Remember, zero drunk driving is the only road to getting home safely.