Don't Drink and Drive - THINK!

Celebrate the festive period safely

December 2025 sees the start of a month-long campaign to address the dangers of drink and drug driving. It aims to reduce the number of road traffic collisions and encourage the public that being complacent can have devastating consequences.

Throughout the campaign period, we will actively raise awareness of the risk involved when you decide to get behind the wheel of a vehicle whilst impaired by drink and/or drugs.

Whatever your plans for Christmas or New Year's, leave your keys at home and don’t be the reason that someone doesn’t make it back to their family.

Make the right choice

168 offenders were required to provide an evidential specimen from 1st December 2024 - 1st January 2025 for being suspected of driving whilst under the influence of drink and or drugs.

Of these, the highest alcohol reading was 159 ugs which is almost three times over the legal limit.

If you’re planning on partying this festive season with family, friends or colleagues, plan ahead and don’t think ‘it won’t happen to me’ because it can.

The law

It is illegal to drive under the influence of drink and or drugs.

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. It's impossible to say exactly how many drinks this equals to – it’s different for each person.

The consequences

There are strict penalties if you are convicted of drink driving, including:

Ways to report

If you think someone is going to attempt to drive under the influence, try and discourage them, but if they won’t listen, tell us or make an anonymous report.

Call 101, or 999 if there is an immediate risk.

Or, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.