Recently I met with a friend at a restaurant for dinner. After a couple of drinks (my limit), he continued to have his usual beer and tequila shots. I wondered, does my friend know his limit? People at the restaurant were noticing him getting louder and louder. How do we know when we are buzzed? We all think we know how our bodies respond to alcohol, but we are actually the worst judges of our own sobriety. Only when most of us get a lot older do we realize when it’s time to call it a night.

I remember in my younger days having a few drinks to move past the buzzed stage. At times, my judgment was poor as to when to quit and I drove impaired, unquestionably beyond the legal limit.

I know now that if I am out eating dinner or at some type of event where alcohol might be served, I can have one drink (beer or wine) and still function. Am I impaired? According to the BAC (blood alcohol content) charts, yes, to the tune of between .01 and .02. My reflexes, according to the research, are slightly slowed, but this change is not noticeable.

Do you know your limit? Do you set a limit before drinking? What you are drinking does make a difference. A drink is classified as 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine and 1.5 ounces of distilled alcohol. If you’re at a bar, most beers end up being anything from 12 to 24 ounces.

Unfortunately, most who have met with me do so because their drinking got them into trouble. Is it worth risking your health, and possibly your job or your life, to enjoy a few moments of the buzz?

If you think that you might have a drinking judgment problem, or someone has mentioned this to you, there are several options available to you. Contact Psychological Services Bureau (PSB) at (213) 738-3500 for a confidential consultation or counseling. Check to see if you have a Peer Support Group member at your unit and talk with them, or call one of Peace Officers Fellowship (POF) members listed here. These members have agreed to give up their anonymity so that others who are in need of help can find the support they need. Don’t worry about calling us, helping other alcoholics is one of the ways we stay sober.