Know the facts about drinking and driving this Chistmas

Drinkaware is urging the public to get the facts about alcohol when celebrating this Christmas and never drink and drive.

They call on people to know the facts:

• It takes at least one hour to process one standard drink; 
• An average pint of beer equals two standard drinks. This means it will take your body two hours to process one pint of beer; 
• Alcohol levels continue to rise for hours after consuming the drink of choice;
• The only way to remove alcohol from your system is time, no amount of food or water will speed up the process;
• Neither will the common myths of showering, eating a large breakfast, coffee, energy drinks or exercise ; 
• The processing time starts from when the last drink is finished. 

If you’re planning on having a drink when you’re out Drinkaware urges the following:

• Leave the car at home ;
• Plan ahead - make sure there are alternative options such as buses, taxis or trains ;
• Switch to an alcohol-free alternative to ensure that you are safe to drive, don’t take any unnecessary risks;
• If visiting a rural area call the restaurant or pub ahead of time to see if shuttle services are available ; 
• If staying in a hotel/B&B check with the staff for options in taking you to and from places.

Drinkaware encouraged people to use its Drinks Calculator which it says allows anyone to input the amount and types of drinks they have consumed and receive an estimated time of how long it will take the body to process the alcohol.  

Drinkaware says it works to prevent and reduce alcohol misuse in Ireland .

Gardaí have also urged motorists to drive safely on Irish roads over the Christmas and New Year period and they're running a a Christmas and New Year road safety enforcement operation to help people safe.

Gardaí continue to appeal to motorists to drive safely on roads this Christmas and New Year, never drive under the influence of an intoxicant, reduce speed, always wear a seatbelt and never use a mobile phone while driving.

The operation began on Thursday, November 30 and will continue until Thursday, January 4 2024, and is focused on the dangers of driving under the influence of an intoxicant, without a seatbelt, speeding or using a mobile phone while driving.

Gardaí have arrested hundreds of drivers on suspicion of driving under the influence of an intoxicant with many driving under the influence of drugs. Thousands of Mandatory Intoxicant Testing (MIT) checkpoints are being mounted.

Thousands of fixed charge notices have been issued for breaking the speed limit, using mobile phones and, and not wearing  seatbelts.

In December 2022 596 people were found to be driving while intoxicated. Drink driving can cause injuries and fatalities. In 2023, we have seen 176 lives lost on Irish roads.