Blood Alcohol
Sir, —“The Press” reported on Saturday that bloodalcohol tests had “shown a count of 240 per cent” and “a blood-alcohol count of 175 per cent.” As explained in my letter on June 17, amounts such as these are wildly inaccurate. Assuming that, for “240 per cent,” 240 milligrams per 100 millilitres was meant, the error exceeds 100,000 per cent Moreover, as I indicated, a blood-alcohol estimation is not a “count.” The term “count” is applicable only to discrete objects such as blood cells and bacteria. Even if possible, it would be impracticable to count the molecules of alcohol in a blood sample. Inaccurate reporting of bloodalcohol tests might lead to loss of public confidence in the method, such as has justifiably occurred with radar checks. As an apparent concession to an assumed public mistrust, the Government has set; the legal limit of alcohol in blood much too high.— Yours, etc., PAUL MALING. June 28, 1969.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19690701.2.95.8
Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32028, 1 July 1969, Page 14
Word Count
157Blood Alcohol Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32028, 1 July 1969, Page 14
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.
Log in