And did you have a cop standing over you trying to ascertain whether or not you were loaded?
Yes indeed these were cops. This was in Germany, and they actually came into a bar to see whether they should haul one of us off (who had been very rambuctous). Whatever stupid test they conjured up I pretty much aced, despite that I was damn drunk. If this had been on the road they would have been forced to release me.
FST's are somewhat subjective.
Not just somewhat, completely. Besides, you rant about the arbitrariness of it; how arbitrary would an FST decision be?! "Pfft, I don't like this guy; he might have done alright in the FST, but who can prove that? I'll just over-emphasize his pauses when reciting the alphabet backwards".
Breathalizer tests are objective, that's a huge plus.
Furthermore, we're well into the 21st century. I'm sure we could come up with a variety of ways to determine a person's level of physical impairment. You don't think a reasonable method for determining reaction time could be developed?
Again, it's easy to conjecture; suggest an objective, quick way of establishing sobriety. You can't have a cop interviewing a driver for half an hour to establish his/her sobriety.
The problem is that MAAD has convinced everybody to rely on an arbitrary number to make that determination, which has done a grave disservice to everybody.
It is a great "disservice" to people who get into the business of managing their alcohol blood content. If an Eastern European thinks he needs to down half a bottle of potato vodka and still get into the car, there is an issue with that person. It's not just the fact that you have alcohol in your blood; it's the fact that you let it rise to a dangerous level and still think you should operate an inherently dangerous activity that could kill people.
If you don't feel you're safe to drive after three beers, then don't. However, I'd be willing to bet that at that same level, you'd probably be a much safer driver than half the people on the road. You strike me as the sort of fellow that under normal circumstances would be a conscientious and thoughtful driver, and I'd rather have a road full of good drivers with a .08 BAC than the current society full of sober idiots. No question about it.
Sure thing, but what are you gonna do about the combination of drunk+idiot? Neither of us here are the measure of what is a reasonable counter-measure; sadly, as with every law in this world, one must orient it after the bad apples, the ones who abuse it.
rumborak