Surgeon says handwash behind drink-drive result

A Wairarapa orthopaedic surgeon today blamed alcohol handwash for failing a breath test while driving his car.

Ian Denholm pleaded not guilty in Masterton District Court to a drink-driving charge after he was found to be over the legal limit when pulled over by police in Masterton at 6pm on July 6 last year.

Police allege he failed a roadside breath test and then recorded a breath alcohol level of 593 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath when tested back at the police station. The legal limit is 400mcg.

Denholm told the court although he had up to two glasses of wine it was the alcohol handwash he was using that tipped him over the limit.

He said to prove it he conducted an experiment to replicate the eight weeks of applying the handwash before failing the test and it again tipped him over the limit.

Denholm said he was not suggesting alcohol handwash got people intoxicated but because he suffered from eczema, he had an extraordinary ability to absorb alcohol into his system.

The hearing is continuing.

- NZPA