Drink driving cop escapes ban

[Kendhni]

Story here
My general opinion of anybody who drinks and drives these days is that they are dirty filthy low life scum that hopefully Darwin will extricate from society before they can actually hurt anyone. I am therefore concerned that some magistrate has let a police officer off and even awarded them costs over what stinks of being a fabricated story .. it makes me wonder if the magistrate is competent or possibly chums with the police officer.

I can tell in an instance if there is any alcohol in an orange juice or coke ... like, duh, it tastes totally different.

I also think that the bar steward should be up on charges for spiking drinks ... either he is telling the truth and should be prosecuted and/or fired, or he is a liar and is covering up for his 'mate' the police officer. The bit that is most dubious is 'personal vodka' .. I suppose it is possible but I have never known of a bar man to keep (or be allowed to keep) 'personal' alcohol behind a bar.

[Boris+]

I don't wish to start a row on here - so please, don't be offended by what follows - but I always thought that pleading 'ignorance' was not acceptable? I don't really believe that the accused didn't know that there was alcohol in what he drank, and that anyway as soon as he started to feel 'tipsy' he should not (repeat not) have got into a vehicle and driven it.

I think he knew what he was doing - and he was in charge of a vehicle when he shouldn't have been, and in view of his job I don't think he should simply just be banned, I think they should throw the book at him, get him to pay the costs also, and sack him whilst they are at it.

A vehicle is a lethal weapon at the best of times, it can harm not just those in the car, but other innocent people too. It is not a play thing - and neither is alcohol.

If someone does not feel 'normal' (eg a bit tipsy) then they shouldn't drive.

Apologies if I have offended anyone, it's just my point of view.

Em

[arcadialover]

One rule for one, another for the rest.

[Dancing Queen]

I can't believe he wouldn't have known, I doubt the 4/5 shots of vodka would have been singles so at the very least he would have felt something was wrong even if he didn't associate it with drinking ( which is doubtful )

They should throw the book at any drink/driver ... there is never an excuse !! if someone want's to drink then take a cab

[Silver_Shiney]

I always felt this thing about spiking drinks with vodka and the drinker consuming it without knowing to be a nonsense, so one night I poured myself a very generous measure of vodka and topped it up with Coke. Had I not poured the vodka myself, I would not have known it was there. On another night, I was on whisky and ginger ale. I could barely taste the whisky (and ginger ale doesn't have that much flavour to it) - yet there was a huge quantity of spirit in the glass.

We don't know how long it was before the policeman started reacting to the allergy, it may be that he felt fine as he left the pub. That being the case, I think it right that he was discharged. IF, on the other hand, he was displaying symptoms, then perhaps he should have recognised them, in which case he should not have got into his car.

Either way, the barman was highly irresponsible and should face charges himself, if what was reported is factual.

[Boris+]

After a cruise, if I haven't got my landlegs back properly and that for me means I sometimes feel a little tiny bit 'woozy' - then I won't drive.

IF silly quaint bumbling old me can be that responsible, why can't a policeman?

Maybe a I feel I bit keenly about drivers and their responsibility after very very nearly being run over recently - in the middle of a pavement, by a motorbike!

Oh well - I think I'll stick to concentrating on cruising.

Em

[Kendhni]

I always felt this thing about spiking drinks with vodka and the drinker consuming it without knowing to be a nonsense, so one night I poured myself a very generous measure of vodka and topped it up with Coke. Had I not poured the vodka myself, I would not have known it was there. On another night, I was on whisky and ginger ale. I could barely taste the whisky (and ginger ale doesn't have that much flavour to it) - yet there was a huge quantity of spirit in the glass.

I suspect your tastebuds must be shot

[Stephen]

One rule for one, another for the rest.

My thoughts too.

[emjay45]

Just read your link Ken and I'm a little sceptical too. I think someone who doesn't drink alcohol would be bound to notice if he were twice over the limit. I think maybe you are right about the barman protecting a friend, but even if he was lying he should have his Alcohol licence taken away.

[Dancing Queen]

I always felt this thing about spiking drinks with vodka and the drinker consuming it without knowing to be a nonsense, so one night I poured myself a very generous measure of vodka and topped it up with Coke. Had I not poured the vodka myself, I would not have known it was there. On another night, I was on whisky and ginger ale. I could barely taste the whisky (and ginger ale doesn't have that much flavour to it) - yet there was a huge quantity of spirit in the glass.

I suspect your tastebuds must be shot

I have always been a vodka drinker and have never understood this theory that it is tasteless, granted it has no smell but I can certainly taste it

[Silver_Shiney]

I always felt this thing about spiking drinks with vodka and the drinker consuming it without knowing to be a nonsense, so one night I poured myself a very generous measure of vodka and topped it up with Coke. Had I not poured the vodka myself, I would not have known it was there. On another night, I was on whisky and ginger ale. I could barely taste the whisky (and ginger ale doesn't have that much flavour to it) - yet there was a huge quantity of spirit in the glass.

I suspect your tastebuds must be shot

I have always been a vodka drinker and have never understood this theory that it is tasteless, granted it has no smell but I can certainly taste it

So can I, in a vodka and lime! But certainly not in that Vodka and Coke

[Dark Knight]

there are a whole slew of perks for ex job coppers
next time you see an ex copper's car have a look for the little round sticker in the windscreen, which denotes "ex job"
amazing how one little sticker gets you out of so much trouble
none of this is remotely new or news worthy, it goes on all the time, a mate of mine is an ex sarge and he tells me it is rife both in and out of the force

[Quizzical Bob]

there are a whole slew of perks for ex job coppers
next time you see an ex copper's car have a look for the little round sticker in the windscreen, which denotes "ex job"
amazing how one little sticker gets you out of so much trouble
none of this is remotely new or news worthy, it goes on all the time, a mate of mine is an ex sarge and he tells me it is rife both in and out of the force

A colleague of mine once told me that he had confronted a copper about his 'perceived perks' such as parking on yellow lines and so forth. His answer was "baker gets free bread, doesn't he"?

[david63]

... "baker gets free bread, doesn't he"?

Actually no he doesn't as that would be a "benefit in kind" and then the tax man would get involved

Not just the baker but also the butcher and the candlestick maker

[Quizzical Bob]

... "baker gets free bread, doesn't he"?

Actually no he doesn't as that would be a "benefit in kind" and then the tax man would get involved

Not just the baker but also the butcher and the candlestick maker

Only if he declares it, unless the taxman assumes an amount anyway. How much tax does a policeman pay on his perks?

[Dancing Queen]

I always felt this thing about spiking drinks with vodka and the drinker consuming it without knowing to be a nonsense, so one night I poured myself a very generous measure of vodka and topped it up with Coke. Had I not poured the vodka myself, I would not have known it was there. On another night, I was on whisky and ginger ale. I could barely taste the whisky (and ginger ale doesn't have that much flavour to it) - yet there was a huge quantity of spirit in the glass.

I suspect your tastebuds must be shot

I have always been a vodka drinker and have never understood this theory that it is tasteless, granted it has no smell but I can certainly taste it quote]


So can I, in a vodka and lime! But certainly not in that Vodka and Coke

I wonder if the coke takes the taste away then Alan, I only ever drink it with tonic but I will put it to the test and try it with coke, I still don't believe he was the innocent he professes to be though

[Silver_Shiney]

Possibly, Jo - the ratio was at least 50% vodka, and it was Coca Cola, not a cheap imitation

[Not so ancient mariner]

Possibly, Jo - the ratio was at least 50% vodka, and it was Coca Cola, not a cheap imitation

Admittedly vodka has no taste other than that of the ethanol content, but even a 50:50 mixture still contains 20% alcohol, which makes it the same strength as port or sherry: - so I would expect it to give a warming sensation when swallowed.