Moz1812
Member
I have had lifelong sleep problems, ever since I was a kid, and recently they got worse, so I went to the doctors last friday. She diagnosed potential sleep apnoea, pending a referral to a sleep clinic.
However, whilst there, they asked all the usual questions, "Do you smoke/drink?" etc. I answered them all honestly. I told her i drink 3-5 330ml (1/2 size) cans of craft beer on an evening after work, about 4 nights I week. I dont drink every day, and never more than 3-5 330m cans (very rarely 5, most often 3). I just see it as way to relax, I dont really think thats an "excessive" level of drinking on an evening. (I will also note that I know for a FACT that I have NEVER driven on a morning whilst over the limit, as I have a breathalyser and always use it, even if I've only had 2 or 3 cans the night before. My dad always taught me it was good practice.) They also asked all the other alcohol-related questions: "Do you drink first thing in the morning or during the day?" (No), "Do you ever feel that you need a drink to get through the day?" (No), "Have you ever got so drunk you've endangered yourself or others? (No), "Have you ever been unable to go to work or perform your responsibilities due to alcohol?" (No). Again I answered all these honestly. All seemed fine.
However, about an hour after my appointment, I got a phonecall from the doctor telling me my levels of drinking where "dangerously high," and that she was adding alcohol misuse to my medical record, and that I must inform the DVLA immediately. Losing my licence, even for only 6 months, isn't an option for me, as I will lose my job. I assumed there must have been a terrible mistake, so I rang the doctors and asked for a second opinion. The other doctor I spoke to basically said she couldnt overturn what another doctor had said, and I need to speak to the DVLA. Today, I received a letter from the doctors basically outlining all this, and again telling me I need to inform the DVLA.
I haven't yet informed the DVLA, but I've also been off work, so I've refrained from driving at all. But what do I do? If I inform them, they will suspend my licence for a minimum 6 months. However, what the doctor said on friday scared me so much that I havent had a single alcoholic drink since then, so any blood test would show 0 alcohol in my bloodstream (It would have on any normal day anyway, due to how little I drink). Would I still be liable for prosecution for driving whilst diagnosed with alcohol misuse, even though any reading would show that I have 0 alcohol in my system?
Thanks in advance for the advice guys.
However, whilst there, they asked all the usual questions, "Do you smoke/drink?" etc. I answered them all honestly. I told her i drink 3-5 330ml (1/2 size) cans of craft beer on an evening after work, about 4 nights I week. I dont drink every day, and never more than 3-5 330m cans (very rarely 5, most often 3). I just see it as way to relax, I dont really think thats an "excessive" level of drinking on an evening. (I will also note that I know for a FACT that I have NEVER driven on a morning whilst over the limit, as I have a breathalyser and always use it, even if I've only had 2 or 3 cans the night before. My dad always taught me it was good practice.) They also asked all the other alcohol-related questions: "Do you drink first thing in the morning or during the day?" (No), "Do you ever feel that you need a drink to get through the day?" (No), "Have you ever got so drunk you've endangered yourself or others? (No), "Have you ever been unable to go to work or perform your responsibilities due to alcohol?" (No). Again I answered all these honestly. All seemed fine.
However, about an hour after my appointment, I got a phonecall from the doctor telling me my levels of drinking where "dangerously high," and that she was adding alcohol misuse to my medical record, and that I must inform the DVLA immediately. Losing my licence, even for only 6 months, isn't an option for me, as I will lose my job. I assumed there must have been a terrible mistake, so I rang the doctors and asked for a second opinion. The other doctor I spoke to basically said she couldnt overturn what another doctor had said, and I need to speak to the DVLA. Today, I received a letter from the doctors basically outlining all this, and again telling me I need to inform the DVLA.
I haven't yet informed the DVLA, but I've also been off work, so I've refrained from driving at all. But what do I do? If I inform them, they will suspend my licence for a minimum 6 months. However, what the doctor said on friday scared me so much that I havent had a single alcoholic drink since then, so any blood test would show 0 alcohol in my bloodstream (It would have on any normal day anyway, due to how little I drink). Would I still be liable for prosecution for driving whilst diagnosed with alcohol misuse, even though any reading would show that I have 0 alcohol in my system?
Thanks in advance for the advice guys.
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