Exact time to stop boozing as Brits drink-drive 'the morning after'
More than a fifth of motorists have admitted to drinking alcohol after 10pm, despite knowing they need drive before 9am the next morning, a study has claimed. IAM RoadSmart, the road safety charity behind the study, issued a stark warning about the dangers of drinking the night before, stressing that even a "groggy head" can significantly slow down reaction times.
The poll, which surveyed 1,072 UK motorists, found that 38 per cent of those who drank several alcoholic beverages before driving at 9am the next day ceased their drinking by 9pm. Drinkaware, the alcohol education charity, said that alcohol is metabolised at roughly one unit per hour, but this rate can vary based on factors such as weight, liver health, and metabolic rate.
IAM RoadSmart highlighted the risks associated with consuming around three large glasses of wine or three pints of strong beer or cider, equating to nine units. They cautioned that individuals drinking until 10pm could still have alcohol in their system by 7am the following morning or later.
Nicholas Lyes, IAM RoadSmart's director of policy and standards, said: " Drink-driving is a killer, and drivers may be unwittingly getting into their vehicle in the morning unaware that they could be doing so illegally if they have been drinking alcohol the night before, posing a serious threat to the safety of others.
"Even if they are just inside the legal limit, the level of alcohol in their system will impair their reaction times. Moreover, consuming alcohol impacts on sleep quality."
Chief Constable Jo Shiner, who leads on roads policing for the National Police Chiefs' Council, warned drivers not to engage in heavy drinking the night before a day of driving. She said: "There is simply no excuse for getting behind the wheel when you are impaired through drink or drugs, and this includes the morning after. If you choose to do so you are putting your life and the lives of others at risk."
The research revealed that nearly one in three drivers (31 per cent) had been passengers with friends or family members who consumed alcohol before taking control of a vehicle in the past year, reports Wales Online. Of those witnessing such behaviour, 72 per cent challenged the would-be driver about their fitness to get behind the wheel, while 23 per cent took no action whatsoever.
An overwhelming four-fifths (81 per cent) of respondents believed rehabilitation programmes should be compulsory for all those found guilty of drink-driving offences. At present, such courses are occasionally offered as an alternative to lengthier disqualification periods.
In addition, data from Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency previously secured by the PA news agency showed that 27,837 British motorists received multiple drink-driving convictions over the 11-year period ending July 20, 2024. A staggering 372 individuals were caught at least four times, with four serial offenders facing prosecution on seven separate occasions.
The most recent Department for Transport (DfT) statistics showed that an estimated 300 fatalities occurred in road accidents involving at least one driver exceeding the legal alcohol threshold during 2022. This represented a rise from 260 deaths the year before and marked the highest annual toll since 2009, when 380 people lost their lives.
Furthermore, more DfT data presented via the RAC revealed there were more casualties during June and July 2024 (660 in each month) than at any time of the year.
The legal limit for drink-driving in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland stands at 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, a threshold higher than any other European country where the limit does not exceed 50mg/100ml. In contrast, Scotland lowered its limit to 50mg/100ml back in 2014.
A Department for Transport (DfT) spokesperson said: "We take road safety extremely seriously, and there are already strict penalties in place for those who are caught drink-driving, with rehabilitation courses offered to those convicted and banned from driving for over a year.
"While we don't have plans to mandate these courses, we are committed to improving road safety, and our Think! campaign will next week launch its summer drink-drive activity, timed to coincide with the National Police Chiefs' Council's Operation Spotlight."
The survey data came from research conducted by Online95, which polled 1,072 UK motorists last month on behalf of IAM RoadSmart.
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