Drink driving is illegal and puts lives at risk. It can be easy to think one or two drinks will not make much difference, especially if you feel fine. But alcohol affects everyone differently, and there is no reliable way to know how much you can drink and still drive safely.
Even a small amount can affect your reaction times, judgement and ability to drive safely.
How does alcohol affect your driving?
Alcohol can affect how quickly you react, how well you judge situations and how much attention you give to the road. How it affects you can depend on things like your age, body size, what you have eaten, how much you have had to drink and how tired or stressed you are.
Feeling fine does not mean you are safe to drive.
Can I work out how much I can drink and stay under the limit?
No. You cannot reliably calculate how much alcohol you can drink and remain below the legal limit.
If you are driving, the safest choice is not to drink alcohol.
What could drink driving cost me?
A drink-driving conviction can affect much more than your licence.
It can also affect:
- your job
- your insurance
- your social life
- your independence
- your ability to get around
And the consequences can be far more serious if you injure yourself, your passengers or someone else.
What should I do instead?
Make the decision before you go out.
- choose a 0% alcoholic drink or soft drink
- arrange a lift with someone who is not drinking
- book a taxi or another way home
- leave the car behind
- stay at a friend’s if you need to
If you’re driving, make the safer choice: 0% alcohol or a soft drink.
What are the drink driving laws and penalties?
There are strict alcohol limits for drivers, but it is not possible to translate these into a safe number of drinks because alcohol affects everyone differently. If you are convicted of drink driving, you could face:
- a driving ban
- an unlimited fine
- up to 6 months in prison
- a criminal record
For driving or attempting to drive while over the legal limit, the minimum driving ban is normally at least 12 months. More serious offences can lead to longer bans and prison sentences.
[Check drink-driving laws and penalties on GOV.UK]
THINK! Campaigns
THINK! have a long history of running campaigns to tackle drink driving, most recently with Drink a Little, Risk a Lot which highlights how even a small amount of alcohol can affect your driving and the consequences that can follow.
Elsewhere, our THINK! 0% initiative works with a range of partners including alcohol brands and hospitality venues to encourage people to choose non-alcoholic drinks if they’re planning to drive.
