The Clinical Effects of Consuming Enough Low-Alcoholic Beer to Reach the UK Legal Driving Limit
Abstract
51 litres or 115 cans of low-alcoholic beer would be required to reach the UK legal alcohol limit for drivers [1]. This paper explores the physiological and potential pathophysiological effects of consuming such a volume with respect to Na+, by modelling the non-alcoholic beer as a solution of ethanol in deionised water. It is found that consuming such a volume would cause serum Na+ to drop to 13.21 mEq/L. This is classified as severe hyponatraemia, with the most likely consequence being death.
Keywords
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Chandla, D.K. & Harwood, G.A. (2015) What Volume of Low-alcoholic Beer can be Consumed Before Reaching the Legal Driving Limit? Journal of Interdisciplinary Science Topics, 4.
NHS Choices (2013) How much alcohol can I drink before driving? Available: http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/2096.aspx?CategoryID=87 [Accessed 29/01/2015].
Barrett, K., Barman, S., Boitano, S. & Brooks, H. (2009) Ganong’s Review of Medical Physiology, 23rd ed. McGraw-Hill.
FATSECRET (2015) Calories in Beck’s Non-Alcoholic Beer. Available: https://www.fatsecret.com/calories-nutrition/becks/non-alcoholic-beer [Accessed 17/03/2015].
Atkins, P. & De Paula, J. (2009) Atkins’ Physical Chemistry, 9th ed. Oxford University Press.
Simon, E.E. (2014) MedScape Reference – Hyponatremia. Available: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/242166-overview [Accessed 17/03/2015].
Bonsall, A. (2012) Patient.co.uk Professional Reference – Hyponatraemia. Available: http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/Hyponatremia.htm [Accessed 17/03/2015].
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.