Drunk or Sober?

NZ Truth, Issue 1062, 1 April 1926, Page 6

Drunk or Sober?

In these days the need for a completely satisfactory test to apply to a person suspected of being intoxicated is greater than ever. IN Dunedin there have recently been * quite a number of charges against persons for/having driven motor-cars while under rthe influence of liquor and m some cases the defence raised has been that the accused was merely excited and riot intoxicated. In one .case the evidence was very contradictory. Those who saw the accused just after the car driven by him had knocked a man down swore that he was drunk, while those who came oh the -scene -.Shortly afterwards, including a; policeman, just as positively 'swore that he !was sober. In finding the maa guilty, the Magistrate said it was possible that the shock consequent on the accident sobered hiny up very quickly. The cables tell us that the -^question of' a satisfactory test is exercising the minds of leading medical men at Home. It is doubtful, however,'whether an infallible test will- ever be found. '■■•■■