Increase in morning-after drink-driving arrests

Police figures have revealed that more people are being arrested for drink-driving following routine breath tests in the morning. Between the hours of 6am and 8am the number of people in England and Wales arrested for being over the limit increased from 350 in 2011 to 363 in 2012.

The figures were reported by LV, the car insurance company. LV obtained the information under the Freedom of Information Act.

LV followed up these figures with its own study into driver attitudes towards alcohol and driving. It found that 46% of drivers were not aware that alcohol is still in the body in the morning. Also, one in five drivers felt that it was always OK to drive the morning after a drinking session.

The body takes around one hour to metabolise one unit of alcohol; therefore, it can take around 12 hours to process five pints of beer or lager. If somebody starts drinking at 7pm and continues until 11pm, it is very likely that they will still have alcohol in their system at 8am the following day.

Many people believe that sleeping well removes the alcohol from the system; however, many people will still be over the limit in the morning.

It is important to consider this during the Christmas period, when many people will be having festive drinks mid-week and going to work the following morning.

The penalty for drink-driving is high, regardless of the amount the individual is over the limit. Drink-drivers can be fined up to £5,000 and banned for at least one year. The most severe cases can result in a prison sentence.