1) Date you applied for new licence: 14/03/2016
2) Date when you got the letter to book medical: 24/03/2016
3) Date when you sent letter back to book medical: No letter sent back, jsut called up from details on letter 29/03/2016
4) Date of Medical: 07/04/2016
5) Date of Results and Outcome: 13/04/2016 - Phoned DVLA everyday from this point, at this date they had received my blood reports but no paperwork. I sent an email with a signature attached to request my bloods to be sent to myself.
19/04/2016 - Received blood report in the post (still no sign of paperwork until 20/04/2016)
21/04/2016 - Phoned DVLA who informed me that my licence had been issued.
6) Period of abstinence prior to actual medical Date: See below
7) Drinking habits prior to abstinence period: See below
Now I know there is a lot of debate on the medical front in regards to abstinence so I will share my own personal experience.
I am 22, female, around 60kg, 5'4, healthy, gym weekly, work etc. My drinking habits tend to be binges at the weekends. Sometimes around 2-3 bottles of wine in one sitting. I rarely drink in the week, maybe one or two if I go for dinner but it is mainly Friday & Saturday drinking. So, building up to the medical, I cut down a little from the start of February but I was still drinking a little. I had a big binge on 27/02/2016 and then drank again on 12/03/2016 (around 14-16 units), from this date I had one drink of one single measure 19/03/2016 - if you ignore the one drink on 19th that means I pretty much had just under 4 weeks alcohol free. I took no extra vitamins or anything like that. This gave me a CDT reading of 0.9%, answered no to all on questionnaire.
I'm sorry, I meant to quote the
original poster.
Nevertheless, this is my experience.
Despite having had my license back for three months now, I am more than happy to answer any questions or concerns anyone may have. From my medical 'experience' to travelling to the US or elsewhere..just ask, if I can help, I will.
1) I sent off my application and cheque on 09/12/15.
2) Received letter from DVLA requesting that I attend a medical on 23/12/15.
3) Booked medical via phone with GP surgery on 23/12/15, the same day I received my letter from DVLA.
4) Date of medical 25/01/16 at 0930hrs.
5) Called DVLA for an update on 04/02/16. Was told that my (10 year) license had been issued on 02/02/16. (Licence was waiting for me when I got home on 04/02/16) Asked for CDT reading but told that I needed to either scan my signed request letter or post a written, signed request. I posted a signed request on 05/02/16. Received a copy of lab report and full questionnaire/doctor's report on 18/02/16, dated 15/02/16. My CDT reading was
1.0%.
6) 23 full days of abstinence. My last drink was on 01/01/16 at about 1800hrs. Medical was at 0930 hrs on 25/01/16.
7) Was drinking about 8-10 units a day just about every day. Very rarely had a day off.
I am a reasonably healthy eater (apart from the drinking). I increased my consumption of fresh leafy green vegetables and fresh fruit. Cut down on processed foods and red meat. Basically, if a food was shown to have liver supporting properties, then I ate it. I drank hot ginger and lemon 'tea' every morning (about 400ml). Upped my intake of water from about 3 pints a day to approximately 6/7 pints a day (be careful when upping your water consumption, especially when in conjunction with unusual or excessive exercise. It is possible to "OD" on water!) I took doses of milk thistle, artichoke, turmeric and ginger extracts daily. I do not propose that they made a huge difference but they certainly can't hurt. I also exercise daily, combination of cardio, strengthening and stretching (yoga style movements).
I have no empirical evidence but either my dietary efforts helped (if even only a little) or the the much purported "12 week abstinence" period is wide of the mark. I have found clinical research papers stating anything from 7 days to 28 days for a half-life for CDT, so even the medical fraternity are "at odds" as to what may be the minimum time of abstinence. There are too many factors involved, from previous drinking habits to weight, lifestyle, fitness and individual physiology to say with absolute certainty that a specific time period will reduce your CDT reading. Obviously, the longer you abstain, the better but I would say that someone looking at a mere 3/4 weeks of abstinence need not give up hope.