John W. Redmann | August 12, 2025 | DUI Accident
The holidays, weekends, and celebrations often involve enjoying a drink or two. However, even small amounts of alcohol can affect your ability to drive safely. In Louisiana, drunk driving remains a serious problem. Every year, countless car accidents occur due to impaired drivers, leaving victims with life-altering injuries or worse.
This raises a common question: “If I’ve only had one drink, am I safe to drive?” While one drink might keep most adults below Louisiana’s legal Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) limit of 0.08%, the truth is that any alcohol can impair your driving. Even just one drink might impact your ability to drive in ways that aren’t immediately obvious.
Why Even One Drink Can Be Dangerous
Alcohol begins affecting your brain and body almost immediately. Even before you feel “buzzed,” your judgment, reflexes, and reaction times are already impacted. This makes driving risky. This is true even if you feel alert or confident in your abilities.
Louisiana law also allows for a DUI charge if an officer determines that your driving is impaired, even if your BAC is below 0.08%. That means there is no safe threshold where drinking guarantees immunity from legal consequences or accident risk. The safest approach is simple – if you drink, do not drive.
Safe Alternatives to Drinking and Driving
Some other safe options include:
- Asking a sober friend or family member to drive
- Using a taxi or rideshare service like Uber or Lyft
- Taking public transportation
When you drink and drive, you are risking your safety and the safety of others around you. The wise choice is to avoid driving when you have consumed any alcohol.
How Alcohol Affects Driving Ability
The effect of alcohol on driving is progressive. Impairment begins with the very first drink.
While individual tolerance and factors such as weight, gender, and food consumption can change how alcohol affects you, here is a general guideline:
- 1 Drink (Approximately 0.02% BAC): Subtle impairment begins. You may have trouble multitasking, following GPS directions, or noticing pedestrians and other vehicles. Even minor distractions can increase your risk of a crash.
- 2 Drinks (Approximately 0.05% BAC): Coordination and reaction times are slowed. Quick maneuvers like stopping, turning, or lane changes become more difficult.
- 3-4 Drinks (Approximately 0.08% BAC): Legally intoxicated in Louisiana. Concentration and perception are affected. This increases the likelihood of traffic violations, missed signals, and collisions.
- 5-6 Drinks (Approximately 0.10% BAC): Cognitive processing slows. Steering, braking, and decision-making are seriously compromised.
- 6+ Drinks (Approximately 0.15% BAC): Severe impairment. Visual and auditory perception declines, reaction times are dangerously slow, and the risk of catastrophic accidents is extremely high.
Even one or two drinks can cause a driver to misjudge distances, fail to anticipate hazards, or react too slowly to emergencies. Many people mistakenly believe they can “handle” alcohol while driving. This misconception is extremely dangerous and can have tragic consequences.
The Legal and Personal Risks of Drunk Driving in Louisiana
A DUI in Louisiana carries severe penalties. This can include fines, license suspension, or even jail time.
But beyond the legal consequences, drunk driving can result in devastating personal consequences:
- Serious bodily injuries or fatalities for yourself or others
- Long-term physical and emotional recovery for accident victims
- Financial burdens, including medical bills, lost income, and property damage
Even a single poor decision (like getting behind the wheel after drinking) can have consequences that last a lifetime.
Contact the Metairie DUI Accident Lawyers at the Law Office of John W. Redmann L.L.C. for Help Today
If you were injured in an accident in Metairie or Gretna, Louisiana, and need legal help, contact our DUI Accident attorneys at The Law Office of John W. Redmann, LLC, to schedule a free case review today.
Our Metairie DUI accident attorneys offer our services on a contingency fee basis, so you won’t come out of pocket to pursue justice. We are available to guide you through the legal process, help recover the compensation you deserve, and ensure your rights are fully protected.
We serve Jefferson Parish County and Louisiana’s surrounding Areas
The Law Office of John W. Redmann, LLC – Metairie, LA Office
2901 N Causeway Blvd, STE 202
Metairie, LA, 70002
(504) 500-5000
The Law Office of John W. Redmann, LLC – Gretna, LA Office