Amstel Lite has recently been launched. Many people are drinking “Lite” beers as they are advertised as being “lighter in calories and alcohol.”
Only if the spelling is “Light” is the drink much lower in alcohol.
In terms of drinking then driving “Lite drinks” make virtually no difference to blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and can mislead responsible people into driving when they are over the limit.
South Africans Against Drunk Driving (SADD) asks that they are not referred to as “drinks” but the more accurate “Units of alcohol” as the different volumes of the drinks affects BAC.
SADD ask that units are displayed on bottles/cans (like in the UK) so that drinkers can make more informed decisions.
If a 68kg man drinks 2 Amstel 440ml (5% ABV) beers in one hour his BAC will come to about 0.088g. 2 Amstel Lites (4% ABV) will come to 0.07g BAC.
He will be over the legal limit with both beers! 2 Savanna 330ml (6% ABV) are 4 Units (i.e.0.08g BAC, and over the legal limit) whereas 2 Savanna Lights (3% ABV) are 2 Units (i.e. 0.04 g BAC, and under the legal limit.)
Caro Smit
South Africans Against Drunk Driving