December is now the second-most dangerous month for drunk driving in the UK

Wednesday 21st December 2022 23:41 EST
 
 

In December, alcohol consumption among adults in the UK increases by a staggering 40% as the highly anticipated festive season gives Brits a reason to fill calendars and diaries with Christmas parties and after-work drinks with our nearest and dearest. While having a few festive tipples with friends and family is part and parcel of celebrating Christmas, Carmoola has found that according to government data, December is now the second-most dangerous month for drunk driving in the UK. And it’s not just Christmas that is the catalyst for the increase in drunk driving. With a fresh wave of rail strikes announced Brits may be more tempted to take the car this festive season. The majority of these strikes are during the busiest time of year for Christmas festivities beginning December 12th and throughout the week including today's “Mad Friday!”

However - don't be tempted to have a few and drive home! In Great Britain, it’s an offence to drive with an alcohol concentration that exceeds the following legal limits, the following would put you over the limit: 

 

  • Breath alcohol calculations for a 35-year-old woman:

Height 163cm

Weight 69Kg

Drinks had over 2 hours before driving.

Drinks 175ml glass of White Wine strength 11.5%

1 glass 2 µg/100ml

2 glasses 17 µg/100ml

3 glasses 33 µg/100ml - over the limit!!

4 glasses 49 µg/100ml

5 glasses 80 µg/100ml

 

  • Breath alcohol calculations for a 35-year-old man:

Height 178cm

Weight 84Kg

Drinks had over 2 hours before driving.

Drinks Pints of Lager strength 3.8%.

1 pint 2 µg/100ml

2 pints 15 µg/100ml

3 pints 28 µg/100ml

4 pints 42 µg/100ml

5 pints 55 µg/100ml

6 pints 68 µg/100ml

 

Whilst many will ordinarily rely on public transport to get home it may be the better option this year to take over the role as designated driver, meaning you can still have fun but can guarantee you can get home after the night out, in fact, you could even be in demand to help out your colleagues. Obviously, no one wants to be the designated driver. Everyone is having fun whilst you are sipping a soft drink. But spoiler alert…it’s 2022 and there’s no better time to be a designated driver! 

While you may think you might be the only one going sober, the UK’s largest recent study of drinking behaviours showed in 2019, 16-to-25-year-olds were the most likely to be teetotal, with 26% not drinking, compared to the least likely generation (55-to-74-year-olds), 15% of whom didn’t drink.

And now one in 3 pub visits are alcohol-free! A recent survey from YouGov asked if Brits who drink alcohol would have an alcoholic drink if they were meeting with someone socially at a pub or restaurant in the evening. The results showed that 16% of alcohol-drinking Britons would not have an alcoholic drink if they were meeting someone socially at all, whilst three in ten British drinkers (31%) would have alcohol only if the other person does. 

 

With this in mind, to help designated drivers this Xmas party season, Carmoola has created a 4- step guide to becoming a Designated Driver Legend:

  1. Be ready for every type of passenger
  2. Learn drunk conversation 
  3. Don’t be left short-changed 
  4. Have the perfect playlist for your drunk passengers 

 

So there you have it - your path to becoming a Designated Driver Legend. Whilst the festive time can be the busiest time in your social calendar, there’s no need to use it as an excuse to drink alcohol or overdo it and put yourself or others in danger. Celebrate sober, and be proud to be the designated driver this Christmas. 


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