While Sammy Hagar can't drive 55, I can and do-- .055 BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) that is. In 1982, Roger Volger and Wayne Bartz published one of the first low-dose alcohol programs in a now out-of-print book called "The Better Way To Drink".
Their primary guidance was to "savor the good effects as your blood alcohol is rising up to a maximum of 55 and then quit drinking", as costs and risks begin to outweigh benefits above .055 BAC:
● The good feelings produced by alcohol decrease above a BA of 55 for most drinkers
● Impairment of physical functioning such as coordination accelerates above 55, along with the risk of all sorts of accidents
● The negative effects on physical health are considered greater above that level
● Emotional control becomes more unpredictable above 55
● Stress relief ends above 55 for most drinkers, and more alcohol tends to increase anxiety rather than to reduce it
● Hangovers occur mainly at BAs over 55, with their attendant negative effects on job performance, family, etc.
My personal experience is totally in line with these findings, though I tend to stay below .030. How can I drink so much and maintain a low BAC? By creating several "alcohol waves" throughout the day. An alcohol wave is created by drinking 2-6 oz of whisky (of equivalent other alcohol) over a period of 1-3 hours, and then stopping for at least a couple of hours before starting the next wave. I theorize that this provides the maximum health benefits of alcohol, without the risks associated with higher BAC. And any benefits are probably amplified by the reduced BMI that comes from substituting alcohol for bad carbohydrates.
As far as driving at 55 BAC is concerned, it's nothing to get your knickers in a twist about, despite what many folks would like you think. The majority of driving fatalities don't involve any alcohol, and the majority of alcohol-related ones occur at a BAC of .15 (aka 150) or higher. The legal limit of .08 is there for a reason-- respect it.
[+] What I Consumed Since Last Post ...
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