Don’t risk it think! don’t drink and drive!
You are more likely to cause a serious road accident or even die, than a driver who hasn’t been drinking. if you are out drinking, book a taxi, grab a lift or even walk home. It’s not worth the risk.
Don't listen to peer pressure. Often people will try and push you into having "one for the road" or "a proper drink". Remember, they're not the ones driving, or the ones having to face the consequences should you be involved in an incident whilst over the limit.
- Designate a driver. If you're in a group, agree before any alcohol has been drunk.
- Give your keys to someone you can trust. It's easy to think you're perfectly able to drive safely when you're not. Remove the temptation before it's there.
- Take a taxi or public transport. Remove the question of driving from the equation.
- And remember, a taxi can cost as little as one round of drinks.
What is the drink-drive limit?
- The legal alcohol limit for driving is 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood but there is no failsafe guide to the amount of alcohol that a driver can safely consume.
- The amount and type of alcoholic drink, the weight, sex and metabolism of the driver all play a part. But any amount of alcohol affects driving ability.
- A motorist's ability to judge speed and distance may be impaired, their reaction times may be slowed and their ability to see risk seriously affected.
- Even a small amount of alcohol and well below the legal limit, seriously affects the ability to drive safely.
How long will it take for alcohol to leave your system?
Most people are not aware how long it takes for alcohol to leave the system. You can still be over the drink drive limit the morning after, even if you feel fine.
It takes about 1 hour for alcohol to be absorbed into your bloodstream. It then takes a further hour for your body (assuming you have a healthy liver) to rid itself of each unit of alcohol. Below is a guide to help you calculate when you should stop drinking if you are driving the following day.
4% beers and ciders
Average strength drinks like Fosters and Guinness are two hour pints. Each pint takes at least two hours to leave your blood stream from when you stop drinking. Therefore if you have four pints and stop drinking at midnight, you are not safe to drive until after 9am the next day
5.5% beers and ciders
Stronger drinks like Stella, Kronenberg and Strongbow are three hour pints. Drink four pints of Stella and you can't drive for at least 13 hours from finishing your last pint. So if you call it a night at midnight you are not safe until after 1pm the next day
5.5% bottles
Becks, Bud, Stella, WDK, Smirnof Ice in 330ml bottles are two hour bottles. Drink six of these up till midnight and you are not safe until after 1pm the next day
Wine
One 250ml glass of 13% wine is a three and a half hour drink. Drink a bottle of it and you'll need to leave 11 hours before driving or 11am if you stop at midnight
Think about it! Don't drink and drive!
Related links
365alive Pledge
I pledge to do my part to reduce the risk in my life by taking the following steps:
- Check my smoke alarm once a week
- Wear a seat belt in a moving vehicle
- Have a fire escape plan
Contact details
Risk Reduction Team
Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue
Rewley Rd Fire Station
Oxford OX1 2EH
Phone 08000 325999
Email the team
Community Safety Helpline
