Tipsy, trashed, or totalled? Lay understanding of dose-specific alcohol intoxication and the criminal justice system

Abstract

This online survey study explored how Australian laypeople (N = 147) define alcohol intoxication using language, standard drinks, blood alcohol concentration (BAC), and symptoms. Participants used an extensive vocabulary to describe intoxication and better understood intoxication in terms of standard drinks and symptoms compared to BAC. Lay intoxication definitions and perceived alcohol-induced impairment thresholds (memory and capacity for consent) were influenced by personal characteristics (e.g. age, personal alcohol consumption). Participants rated symptom-based evidence as most useful when evaluating a person’s intoxication status in a legal setting and welcomed expert evidence. Findings can inform litigation and educational strategies that facilitate accurate engagement with alcohol intoxication in the courtroom.