Extreme case: Great Southern man allegedly records blood alcohol level nearly seven times the legal limit

A Great Southern man allegedly blew nearly seven times the legal alcohol limit after he was stopped by police in Walpole. Walpole police say they responded to a call from a member of the public who was concerned about a man drinking inside a vehicle in a carpark on Monday. About 1.40pm, officers say they arrived at the carpark to find a man who had the engine of his vehicle running and was about to drive away. They stopped the vehicle and breath-tested the man, who allegedly returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.348. The Australian Department of Health advises that a blood alcohol level of 0.15 to 0.30 can result in memory loss and possible loss of consciousness, while a level of more than 0.30 can lead to a coma or death. The 32-year-old man was issued a driving disqualification notice and charged via summons with driving under the influence. He is due to face Albany Magistrates Court in June.