Driving under the influence of alcohol is something that should never be done, under any circumstance.
This is because booze can alter your judgement whilst driving - and while you may feel sober, this often isn’t the case.
When someone is drink-driving, their reaction time is much slower and their ability to judge speed is signifiactly affected, which can increase the risk of a car accident.
It also creates a false confidence which can lead to risk-taking behaviour, and put your life and the lives of others in danger.
If you're found to be over the drink-drive limit, you could receive a criminal record, a maximum penalty of six months in prison, an unlimited fine, and an automatic driving ban of at least one year.
From limits to duration, here’s everything you need to know about drinking and driving.
How long does alcohol stay in your system?
Drinking before getting behind the wheel can have devastating consequences, not only for the passengers of the vehicle, but other road users too.
That’s why the Government sets strict drink-drive limits to prevent drink-driving deaths, of which there are an estimated 7,800 in the UK every year.
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Dr Fiona Sim OBE, chief medical adviser for Drinkaware, explained the amount of alcohol in your bloodstream depends on the quantity you consume, the period of time and the speed at which your body gets rid of it.
On average, alcohol leaves the body at the rate of about one unit per hour, but this varies from person to person. This depends on your size, gender, how much food you’ve consumed, your metabolism and the state of your liver, pointed out the charity.
There is no test that tells you how quickly or slowly your body can process alcohol, so you are advised to avoid drink-driving entirely.
What is the drink-driving limit in the UK?
The legal alcohol limit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for driving is 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood or 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.
This limit was imposed in 1966 when the Road Safety Bill was introduced. In 1967 the breathalyser was introduced as a way of testing a person's blood alcohol level.
Meanwhile, in Scotland the limit is 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood or 22 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.
There is no way to know how many milligrammes one unit of alcohol will produce in your bloodstream.
The Metropolitan Police warns: “Alcohol affects everyone differently and any amount can impair your ability to drive. The only safe option is to avoid alcohol completely if you’re driving as even ‘just one drink’ could put you over the limit.”
Can I drive in the morning after drinking?
Small quantities of alcohol can affect your ability to drive, so staying away from the wheel all together is strongly advised, highlights Drinkaware.
The charity writes: "The advice from the police is clear: avoid alcohol altogether if you plan to drive.
"Because there is no way to speed up how long your body takes to process any alcohol in your system, there’s no fail-safe way to guarantee all the alcohol you have drunk will be gone by the time you wake up the next day."
Can I sleep off the effects of alcohol?
A common misconception is that alcohol levels subside as you sleep, but getting some well-needed shuteye does not speed up the rate at which alcohol leaves your bloodstream.
Researchers from the Institute of Advance Motoring have said that people don’t understand that just because they have been to sleep, it doesn’t mean alcohol no longer affects them.
"Many drivers who would not consider driving after a night in the pub fail to recognise the influence of alcohol on their body the next day, or simply choose to ignore its effects," they stated.
Will drinking coffee or water speed up the rate?
While both coffee and water may help you feel better during a hangover, they won’t speed up the rate alcohol leaves your body.
Drinkaware explains that “the only way to eliminate alcohol from the body is to let time pass."
The charity goes on to say: "Having a cup of coffee or a cold shower won’t do anything to get rid of the alcohol.
"You might feel slightly different, but you won’t have eliminated the alcohol in any way.”
Steve Horton, director of communications at Road Safety GB, previously said: "Black coffee or a cold shower will not sober you up.
“Coffee just means you’re awake and drunk, and a cold shower that you’re cold, wet and drunk."
Drinking water the night before may reduce your headache the following day, but it won’t change the level of alcohol in your system.
How many units are in popular drinks?
The number of units in alcoholic drinks vary depending on the strength of the beverage. On average, these are the units in popular drinks:
Pint of low strength lager, beer or cider (3.6%) = 2 units
Pint of high strength lager, beer or cider (5.2%) = 3 units
175 ml glass of average strength wine (12%) = 2.1 units
250 ml glass of wine of average strength (12%) = 3 units
Single measure of spirits = 1 unit
There are a number of long term health risks associated with excessive alcohol use, including high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and cancer.
According to the NHS, men and women are advised not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis. This should be spread over three or more days to keep alcohol health risks at a low level.
The health body adds that 14 units is equivalent to six pints of average-strength beer or 10 small glasses of lower-strength wine.
There are handy tools available to help you measure the units in you alcoholic beverage at Drinkaware.com.
