Having a drink at the club/when cleaning your guns at home?

[tiki]

Hi all,

I did a search for this in the firearms act online for terms like 0.05, 0.02 etc. and some of the blood alcohol limits I know they have in various states but couldn't find anything.

Is there a set limit for booze when your traveling with your guns or have been for a shoot?

OBVIOUSLY drinking before/while shooting is stupid (Don't need any safety lectures, hehe).

But if you have 1 at the club after shooting, or are sitting at home cleaning your rifle while having a beer etc. Is that cool? or strict no-no?

Talking safe guns only, no ammo around etc... All the common sense stuff.

Cheers.

[Norton]

This is very much an open to interpretation (by the police, not you) part of the law.

As you say, there isn't a specific limit in the firearms act like 0.05 etc. I believe the wording is something like "handing a firearm while under the influence of alcohol or drugs", so ultimately the powers that be can decide if you were in violation of this.

If you're camped out somewhere with everything locked up in the case/car etc., and you've got 1 beer in you I'd like to think that a ranger/cop wouldn't have an issue, but you never know.

Better safe than sorry, I'd avoid it.

Cleaning a rifle only takes 20 minutes once the day is done and you're home, I'm sure you can without for 20 minutes

[Monty]

Short answer, don't do it.

I'm sure someone will chime in saying your not going to get random breath tested on your couch at home, but if on the 1 in a million chance someone came knocking and saw a beer or two next to your rifle I doubt they'd be impressed.

No judgement here... I'm sure everyone's capable of securing away all the dangerous bits at home before cleaning a cleared rifle and having a beer, but strictly speaking you could get in trouble over it.

Like Norton said, I wouldn't risk my license over having to wait 20 minutes for a drink.

[inervate]

When I did my safety course the guy mentioned this. He said as long as all firearms & ammo are separated and locked up etc. Having a drink shouldn't be a problem if a ranger or whoever comes wandering past.

If you got tanked though and had guns in the car/tent or wherever you'd likely be in for some trouble though.

[Seik]

What are the chances of getting an RBT in your living room?

Seriously though, best to leave the hooch alone until the guns are away.

[tarnagulla]

It is interesting that some other states also refer to "under the influence" etc. In Victoria it is the same - no reference to .02, .05, or anything else - just under the influence.

The significance of course is that if you have had only one sip, and a member of the police force or other authorised officer accuses you of being under the influence, the practical effect is that in court you have to prove that you were not! No need for RBT or other breathalyser evidence - effectively, you are guilty unless you can prove yourself innocent. That is why legislation in various states was worded that way...

Of course, you might be up against a sympathetic magistrate - but don't count on it!

Safest is Seik's advice...

[lole]

It is interesting that some other states also refer to "under the influence" etc. In Victoria it is the same - no reference to .02, .05, or anything else - just under the influence.

The significance of course is that if you have had only one sip, and a member of the police force or other authorised officer accuses you of being under the influence, the practical effect is that in court you have to prove that you were not! No need for RBT or other breathalyser evidence - effectively, you are guilty unless you can prove yourself innocent. That is why legislation in various states was worded that way...

There has to be more too it than that though doesn't there?

Even if it's something circumstantial like appearing to be under the influence, i.e. slurred speech, loss of co-ordination or something similar....

Surely someone can't just accuse you and bam, you're done?