Citation

Iffland R, Staak M, Rieger S. Blutalkohol 1982; 19(3): 235-251.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1982, International Committee on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety and Bund gegen Alkohol und Drogen im Straßenverkehr, Publisher Steintor Verlag)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

A drinking situation often encountered in claims of drinking after a traffic offence was reconstructed, based on a statistical analysis of 6024 blood test reports of traffic offence cases and 40 cases in which expert opinion was presented before the court. This drinking situation was simulated in a test using various high-proof alcohols as the post-offence drink; blood and urine specimens were taken before and after the post-offence drink. The following statements can be made concerning the investigation and assessment of post-offence drinking claims: 1. If there is any possibility of post-offence drinking, police investigations and medical examinations should be carried out meticulously, noting in particular any peculiarities in the intoxication symptoms. 2. A urine specimen taken at the same time as the blood sample is better suited for assessing post-offence drinking claims than a second blood sample taken 30 minutes after the first. 3. Accompanying alcohol studies are definitely well suited for disproving or confirming post-offence drinking claims. 4. Post-offence drinking claims can be investigated with blood tests, but not with breathalizer tests.