As the festive season approaches, many of us look forward to celebrating with friends, family, and colleagues, over a meal or at the office party, and often with a drink in hand. It’s a time of happiness, but it’s also a time when we need to be especially mindful of the choices we make. Among the most ‘sobering’ being the decision to avoid drinking and driving.
Thousands of people are killed or seriously injured in road accidents every year because at least one driver is over the drink-drive limit. Why? Because alcohol affects drivers’ reaction times, judgement and co-ordination. It is estimated that at twice the legal limit, you are at least 50 times more likely to be involved in an accident, with around 1 in 6 deaths on UK roads being caused by drink drivers.
Drivers must not consume alcohol whilst driving, or prior to driving which would cause them to drive whilst under the influence of alcohol under any circumstances. Drivers should also remember that it is still possible to be ‘over the limit’ the following morning, from alcohol consumed the night before. As a reminder, the current legal limits in the UK are:
Even small amounts of alcohol affect your ability to drive and there is no reliable way to drink and stay within the limit. The advice from the police is clear: avoid alcohol altogether if you intend to drive. If you are going out for a drink, plan on how to get there and back safely.
It is also an offence under road traffic legislation to drive a vehicle whilst under the influence of illegal drugs. Since road-side drug testing was introduced, there has been a significant increase in the number of drivers prosecuted for drug driving, largely for cannabis, MDMA and cocaine use.
The penalties for being caught driving whilst under the influence of drink and/or drugs can result in: a criminal record; imprisonment; an unlimited fine; and being banned from driving for at least one year. It goes without saying that the penalties for causing a death whilst under the influence of either are far more severe.
Let’s make this festive season one to remember for all the right reasons—celebrate responsibly and never drink and drive.
If you have any questions, please get in touch.
Whilst care has been taken in the production of this article and the information contained within it has been obtained from sources that Griffiths & Armour, an Aon company believes to be reliable, Griffiths & Armour, an Aon company does not warrant, represent or guarantee the accuracy, adequacy, completeness or fitness for any purpose of the article or any part of it and can accept no liability for any loss incurred in any way whatsoever by any person who may rely on it. In any case any recipient shall be entirely responsible for the use to which it puts this article.This article has been compiled using information available to us up to 4 December 2025
