DRUNK OR NOT DRUNK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19567, 21 February 1927, Page 12

DRUNK OR NOT DRUNK.

GENERAL NUISANCE TEST. LONDON. SURGEON'S FORMULA. (Received . 'A. and N.Z. ' LONDON,.Feb.- .19. "If I were ''called'to a' police Station to see whether 'an arreted man Was drunk oir ; not, I should ask him. to read the defmition of drunkenness made by tlie committee of the British Medical Association," said a. prominent divisional surgeon of the Metropolitan Police. "If a man could read it, he could-certainly .not. be, drunk. "If I were' asked to give a comprehensive definition of drunkenncssj I should 'say a man is drunk when lio makes a general nuisance of himself. Motorist's are chiefly concerned in this business, because the penalties in. England for driving a. car when drunk are invariably three months' imprisonment,, '.and suspension of the licence to drive.for a year. "It seems impossible to generalise "about- > drunkenness. • A iman, once during the war drove: me on a very difficult road with perfect skill. • On the following morning he knew'W little about; what had happened that-lie went to. the garage in his,pyjamas, to.see if .the car >vere there." " .- The definition given by the ,committee set up by the British Medical. Association' was:—"A man is drunk when he is so much influenced by alcohol as to have lost; control of his faculties to. such an. extent as to render him tumble. foi\ a. material time to execute safely, the occupation: in .which he is engaged. !> i. /;!