Alcohol and Driving

Any amount of alcohol affects your ability to drive, but if you exceed the limits, you risk a hefty fine, a minimum 12-month driving ban, possible imprisonment and a criminal record.

A conviction for drink driving doesn’t just come with legal consequences; it also triggers a significant spike in your car insurance costs. If you drive for work, your employer will see your conviction on your licence for up to 11 years after the event. If you are considering having a drink, the compelling choice is to completely avoid alcohol when you take to the road. Your safety and the well-being of others depends on this crucial decision.

How does alcohol affect your driving?

Alcohol can severely impact your driving abilities, even in small amounts. It affects your reaction times, coordination, perception and judgment [1]. It also gives you a false sense of confidence, making you believe you are in control when you are not. Feeling sober is not a reliable indicator of your driving abilities.

The law and the limits of drink driving in the UK

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the legal alcohol limit for driving is 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood or 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. In Scotland, the limit is lower at 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood or 22 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath [2]. There is no way to know how much you can drink and stay under the limit.

Ultimately, if a driver kills someone while under the influence of alcohol, they can be charged with causing death by careless driving while under the influence of drink or drugs (Section 3A of the Road Traffic Act 1988, as amended by the Road Traffic Act 1991, section 3). If the offence was committed on or after 28 June 2022, the maximum penalty is life imprisonment [2].

Drinking over the festive period

During the festive season, drink-driving incidents often increase due to the numerous celebrations and occasions that involve alcohol. Many people tend to underestimate the effects of alcohol and take unnecessary risks which can lead to fatal road accidents.

It is essential to be extra cautious during Christmas and avoid drinking and driving altogether. Instead, plan and use alternative modes of transportation, such as public transport, taxis or designated drivers. Remember, the cost of a taxi is a small price compared to the potential consequences of drunk driving. 

To be safe, drivers should be completely sober before driving – including the following day. How long it takes alcohol to leave your system depends on lots of factors, including:

• Gender – men tend to process alcohol faster than women
• Dehydration – if you haven’t drunk enough fluids, alcohol will stay in your system for longer
• Mixers – mixing drinks with water and juice means you absorb alcohol slower; fizzy mixers mean you absorb alcohol faster than with no mixers
• Tiredness – when you are tired, your liver becomes less efficient, processing alcohol more slowly so it stays in your system for longer.

It is advised that people who need to drive the next day should limit themselves to one or two drinks [1]. Moreover, as a rough guide, drivers should allow at least one hour to absorb alcohol, and at least one hour for each unit consumed. Currently, a UK unit is eight grams (or 10 millilitres) of pure alcohol.

If you were heavy or late night drinking, you could be impaired all of the next day. Drinking coffee, eating, sleeping and showering does not make you sober up any faster. It just takes time.

References

[1] BRAKE (no date) Drink Driving: The risks, the law, the limits and the penalties. Available at: https://www.brake.org.uk/get-involved/take-action/mybrake/knowledge-centre/drink-driving

[2] Police UK (no date) Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Available at: https://www.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/rs/road-safety/alcohol-drug-driving/

For more related content go to the Driving Under Influence page 

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