Éduc' Alcool

Thursday, May 01st 2008

Éduc’alcool launches its “evening planner”éduc’alcool launches its “evening planner”

The Éduc’alcool website now features an “Evening Planner” that allows people to anticipate their blood alcohol content (BAC) based on how much they plan to drink, so that they can control their intake and make the most responsible decisions. Introduced in mid-April, the planner was an instant hit. Heavy traffic has been recorded at the site and the response has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic.

The easy-to-use calculator estimates BAC right from the first drink of the evening. The calculation factors in sex, weight, the number of hours over which the alcohol is absorbed, how much the person drinks and what kind of alcohol is being consumed.

The Evening Planner was developed in response to a need clearly expressed by almost two-thirds of drivers in Québec. In “Quebecers and Alcohol,” a 2007 CROP poll, two out of three respondents said they wanted tools for calculating their BAC. The same percentage of respondents said they wanted to know more about how much they could safely drink before driving.

The goal is to help Quebecers gain more control over their drinking, whether or not they drive. All the research shows that drivers tend to underestimate their BAC, and drinkers systematically underestimate how much they drink. With this tool, we are continuing to make people aware of the importance of moderation, and urging drivers to make sure they are absolutely sober before they start their engines.

Obviously, the figures are for information purposes only and have no legal value. Nor are they intended to justify how much you can drink before driving. In fact, Éduc’alcool believes it is better not to drink at all if you are going to drive. The Evening Planner can’t replace your own good judgement.

Éduc’alcool hopes that as many people as possible will use this new tool, which was created to encourage responsible driving and to remind everyone that moderation is always in good taste.