Drunkenness

Dept. of Forensic Medicine theory class teaching materials

1. DRUNKENNESS Dr Dhritiman N ath Associate Professor , Dept of Forensic Medicine MGMC&RI, Pondicherry

2. OBJECTIVES At the end of the lesson , a student is expected to know- Definition of drunkenness Blood alcohol levels, stages of intoxication, c/f Statutory limit of permissible blood alcohol level for a drunken driver in India Punishment for a drunken driver How to write a drunkenness certificate

3. DEFINITION Drunkenness is a condition produced in a person who has taken alcohol in a quantity sufficient to cause him to lose control of his faculties to such an extent, that he is unable to execute safely , the occupation in which he was engaged at the particular time ( by Spl . Committee of BMA in 1927 ) (Ref: Thangaraj . K. Practical Forensic Medicine. 1 st Ed: 66)

4. Ref: Pillay V V , Textbook of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, 15 th Ed: 529

5. Ref: Pillay V V , Textbook of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, 15 th Ed: 529

6. BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVELS < 10 mg % ------------------- Sober 20 – 70 mg % ---------------- Drinking 80 – 100 mg % -------------- Under the influence 150 – 300 mg % ------------ Drunk or intoxicated 400 mg % and above ------Coma and death (Ref : Reddy KSN, The Essentials of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, 28 th Ed: 509)

7. “ Under the influence ”  Due to alcohol intake, a person has lost (to any degree),some of the clearness of the mind and self – control that he normally possesses

8. CLINICAL FEATURES OF “ under the influence” Flushed face Dilated and sluggish pupils Euphoria Loss of restraint Thickness of speech Carelessness and recklessness Incoordination Stagger on sudden turning

9. CLINICAL FEATURES OF “ drunk ” Flushed face Dilated and inactive pupils Rapid movement of eyeballs Unstable mood Loss of restraint Clouding of intellect Thickness of speech Incoordination Staggering gait Slurred speech Mental confusion Vomiting

10. CLINICAL FEATURES OF “ coma” Rapid pulse Subnormal temperature Strenuous breathing Deep unconsciousness Contracted pupils

11. Statutory limit of permissible blood alcohol level for a drunken driver in India  30 mg% ( S 185, Motor Vehicle Act 1988 ) Punishment for 1 st offence  fine upto INR 2,000 or 6 months imprisonment or both 2 nd or subsequent offence  INR 3000 or 2 years imprisonment or both

12. SEC 510 IPC: An individual can be detained who creates public nuisance under the influence of alcohol Punished by imprisonment for 24 hours or fine of INR 10/- or both. ( Ref: Thangaraj . K, Practical Forensic Medicine. 1 st Ed: 71)

13. SEC 85 IPC Deals with criminal responsibility of involuntary alcoholism Nothing is an offence which is done by a person who at the time of doing it, by reason of intoxication, is incapable of knowing the nature of the act or that he is doing what is either wrong or contrary to law, provided the thing which intoxicated him was administered to him without his knowledge or against his will. ( Ref: Thangaraj . K, Practical Forensic Medicine. 1 st Ed: 71)

14. SEC 86 Deals with voluntary alcoholism A person who does an act in a state of intoxication shall be liable for his act if he has done with the intention and knowledge as he would have had if he had not been intoxicated. ( Ref: Thangaraj . K, Practical Forensic Medicine. 1 st Ed: 71)

15. REFERENCES: Reddy KSN, The Essentials of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, 28 th Ed: 504 – 512 Pillay V V , Textbook of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, 15 th Ed: 533- 535 Thangaraj . K, Practical Forensic Medicine. 1 st Ed: 63 - 74