DRINKING OF ALCOHOL OTHER THAN ETHANOL IN DRIVERS AND IN VICTIMS OF FATAL ACCIDENTS

Occurrences in Finland of the use of denatured or technical alcohols such as carburettor defrost fluid (99% isopropanol) by drivers arrested for suspected drunken driving and by victims of fatal intoxication were studied. In 1986 there were 25672 arrests for suspected drunken driving, and evidence of the drinking of denatured alcohols or technical solvents was found in 52 cases (0.2%). The results show that driving while under the influence of alcohols other than ethanol is not common in Finland. (abstract of a paper presented at an international workshop of the international committee on alcohol drugs and traffic safety, 6-7 September 1987, dusseldorf, Federal republic of Germany). (TRRL)