More than a third of drivers may have been driving while over the legal blood alcohol limit the morning after consuming several alcoholic drinks the previous night, according to a new survey.
The survey of 1,072 motorists, carried out for IAM RoadSmart in June 2025, found that of those who last consumed several alcoholic drinks the prior evening, 38% stopped drinking after 9pm despite needing to drive the following morning before 9am.
This figure was one in five (21%) who supped their final drink after 10pm.
Guidance from Drink Aware states alcohol is removed from the body at a rate of one unit per hour, though this varies depending on weight, liver health and metabolism speed.
Alcohol Change UK’s unit measurement means consuming three large glasses of wine (12%) or three pints of high strength beer or cider (5.2%) is the equivalent of nine units, therefore stopping drinking at 10pm means there could still be alcohol within the body at 7am or later depending on the person.
The survey also found a third (31%) of drivers in the last 12 months had been in the company of a friend or a relative who had been consuming alcohol before that person got into their vehicle or onto their motorcycle.
Almost three quarters (72%) warned them that they shouldn’t use their vehicle, however, a quarter (23%) did not take any action with 5% of this group believing it was none of their business to say anything.
Almost two-thirds (62%) of drivers believe that the increasing prevalence of zero-alcohol alternatives can play an important role in reducing drink driving.
Separately, there were very high levels of support for drink drive rehabilitation courses, with eight in ten (80%) saying such courses are vital to reducing reoffending. A similar amount (81%) said such courses should become mandatory for anyone who has been convicted for drink drive-related offences, rather than the status quo of it being an offered option with no compulsion to complete the course.
The impact of alcohol on road safety is seen as the most effective part of these programmes by 83%, with respondents also signalling support for additional modules that focus on the impact drink driving can have on victims.
Nicholas Lyes, IAM RoadSmart director of policy and standards, said: “Drink driving is a killer, and drivers may be unwittingly getting into their vehicle in the morning unaware that they could be doing so illegally if they have been drinking alcohol the night before, posing a serious threat to the safety of others.
“Even if they are just inside the legal limit, the level of alcohol in their system will impair their reaction times. Moreover, consuming alcohol impacts on sleep quality, so at best they will be driving tired, with a groggy head and have slower reaction times, at worst they will be breaking the law or be involved in a serious collision.
“Our advice is always ‘None for the Road’, which applies when you’re driving to a social gathering. If you are socialising the night before and need to use your vehicle the following morning, you should exercise caution in what you consume or delay your journey the following day.
“Many tend to associate a spike in drink driving over Christmas, but summertime is also a high-risk period, with people making the most of outdoor social gatherings and pub gardens.”
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