Recommendations to always find a designated driver are predicated on assumption that the designated driver is not drinking.  Unfortunately, a recent study suggests that even the designated driver may have been drinking.

The study, published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, performed breath tests over a three-month period in a college bar and restaurant district.  Of the 1,071 bar patrons interviewed, the researchers conducted breath tests on 165 designated drivers.  They found that 40 percent of these designated drivers had at least one drink.  The breathalyzer results showed that 17 percent of designated drivers had a blood alcohol level between .02 and .049 and 18 percent had a blood alcohol level of over .05.  Blowing over a .05 would be legally intoxicated under new recommendations to lower the blood alcohol level.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommended that states reduce the current legal blood alcohol level from .08 to .05.  Under the current standard, which has been in place for over a decade, there have still been 10,000 vehicle fatalities and an estimated 30 percent are tied to alcohol.  The standard in the rest of the industrialized world, outside of the U.S., is .05 and the NTSB is hoping to bring the U.S. up to par.

The .08 standard was put into place during the Clinton Administration.  At the time, President Clinton was criticized for trying to take control of an area that was traditionally regulated by the state.  However, Clinton tied the request to federal highway funds.  States that wanted to continue receiving federal funding had to make the change in the legal limit.

The concept of a designated driver has also spurred independent businesses.  Services that offer to send a private designated driver, or chauffeur, offer someone that is separate from the social activities and likely free from the pressure to drink.  These services provide drivers, but not cars, which can be a cheaper or more convenient alternative than using a private car service or taxis.

According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, there is a misconception about the ability of the body to “sober up” by drinking strong coffee, sweating out the alcohol, or taking a cold shower.  Some designated drivers may be under the assumption that, even if they drink, they will be able to stop themselves when they are ready and take actions during the end of the night that will lower the alcohol content in their blood.  Unfortunately, it takes the body about an hour per drink to sober up.