Beer and bicycling
The rules tell us that (#47)
The rules assume that one first rides the bikes, then drinks a few pints, and then does not ride anymore. Usually this is the best way to do it. Sometimes it is not. For example, when one is on a long bicycle tour and rides from morning to evening, it is very nice to have a beer with lunch or during a late afternoon break. Nothing tastes better than a cool pint of quality beer after 5 hours of riding.
The problem is alcohol (which of course is the reason to drink beer in the first place). Alcohol tends to increase reaction times, to make balancing harder and to increase risks in general. So, it is not wise to drink a lot while there still is still some riding left.
But how much is too much? How many pints are a pint too much? Clearly, 4 is too much. One maybe not. What about the law? What is the legal limit?
There is no global, not even European, common legal limit. The limit varies a lot. Some examples:
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| Catalonian craft IPA in B12, Girona |
Cycling and beer are so intertwined we may never understand the full relationship. Beer is a recovery drink, an elixir for post-ride trash talking and a just plain excellent thing to pour down the neck. We train to drink so don’t fool around.
The rules assume that one first rides the bikes, then drinks a few pints, and then does not ride anymore. Usually this is the best way to do it. Sometimes it is not. For example, when one is on a long bicycle tour and rides from morning to evening, it is very nice to have a beer with lunch or during a late afternoon break. Nothing tastes better than a cool pint of quality beer after 5 hours of riding.
The problem is alcohol (which of course is the reason to drink beer in the first place). Alcohol tends to increase reaction times, to make balancing harder and to increase risks in general. So, it is not wise to drink a lot while there still is still some riding left.
But how much is too much? How many pints are a pint too much? Clearly, 4 is too much. One maybe not. What about the law? What is the legal limit?
There is no global, not even European, common legal limit. The limit varies a lot. Some examples:
- In Poland, the limit is 0.2 (unit 1/1000th of blood volume), i.e. one pint is too much. The police is very actice. A night in jail awaits drunkards. And a hefty fine.
- In Baltic states, the limit is also 0.2. No idea how enthusiastic the police is.
- In Germany, the limit is 1.6. This means that one can legally drink 8 pints. Too much.
- In Finland, there is no legal limit. One can drinks as much as one can and then go out riding one's bicycle.
So, when out riding in a new country, do check the local law. And do not drink too much. One or two pints is usually quite enough. Take care.
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