Warning
Info
Warning
Info
Simple English definitions for legal terms
intoxicant
Read a random definition: Anti-Assignment Act
A quick definition of intoxicant:
An intoxicant is a substance, like alcohol, that can make a person lose control of their senses or ability to think clearly. Intoxication is when someone drinks or takes drugs and becomes unable to act normally. There are different types of intoxication, like voluntary (when someone chooses to drink or take drugs) and involuntary (when someone is given drugs without their knowledge or against their will). Public intoxication is when someone appears drunk or high in a public place, and it can be considered a crime in some places.
A more thorough explanation:
An intoxicant is a substance, usually alcohol, that can make a person lose control of their senses or reasoning abilities.
Intoxication is a state of being where a person's mental and physical abilities are reduced due to the consumption of drugs or alcohol. For example, if someone drinks too much alcohol and becomes drunk, they are experiencing intoxication.
- Drinking too much alcohol and becoming drunk
- Taking drugs that impair your ability to think or move properly
These examples illustrate how an intoxicant can affect a person's ability to function normally and can lead to dangerous situations.
Involuntary intoxication occurs when a person is given drugs or alcohol without their knowledge or against their will. This can be a defense in criminal or negligence cases.
If someone puts a drug in your drink without your knowledge and you become intoxicated, this is an example of involuntary intoxication.
Voluntary intoxication is when a person willingly consumes drugs or alcohol to the point of impairment. This is not a defense for general-intent crimes, but may be used to refute a specific-intent crime.
If someone drinks alcohol before driving and causes an accident, they cannot use voluntary intoxication as a defense. However, if they are accused of a crime that requires a specific intent, such as premeditated murder, they may use voluntary intoxication to argue that they did not have the necessary intent to commit the crime.