Drink drive - one drink can destroy a life

Celebrate the festive period safely

December 2025 sees the start of a month-long campaign to address the dangers of drink and drug driving. It aims to reduce the number of road traffic collisions and encourage the public that being complacent can have devastating consequences.

Throughout the campaign period, we will actively raise awareness of the risk involved when you decide to get behind the wheel of a vehicle whilst impaired by drink and/or drugs.

Whatever your plans for Christmas or New Year's, leave your keys at home and don’t be the reason that someone doesn’t make it back to their family.

Make the right choice

168 offenders were required to provide an evidential specimen from 1^st December 2024 - 1^st January 2025 for being suspected of driving whilst under the influence of drink and or drugs.

Of these, the highest alcohol reading was 159 ugs which is almost three times over the legal limit.

If you’re planning on partying this festive season with family, friends or colleagues, plan ahead and don’t think ‘it won’t happen to me’ because it can.

Roadshows

Our officers are back again this year with their interactive drink drive roadshow to engage with members of the public.

The events are being held at Trinity Square in Nottingham City Centre between 3pm – 7:00pm on Tuesday 2 November and Wednesday 3 November 2025.

Here’s what’s happening at each event:

• See the devastating consequences from a car wreck caused by a drink‑driving collision

• Try on beer goggles to see how alcohol really affects your vision and reaction times

• Pick up one of our educational activity packs containing a pair of impaired glasses, some challenges, and facts to share with family and friends

• Take part in non-evidential breath tests and discover how alcohol can increase your risk of a collision

• Ask officers from the Roads Policing Unit and our local city officers about your questions and learn more about the dangers of drink and drug driving

The law

It is illegal to drive under the influence of drink and or drugs.

The legal alcohol limit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for driving is 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, or 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. It's impossible to say exactly how many drinks this equals to – it’s different for each person.

Ways to report

If you think someone is going to attempt to drive under the influence, try and discourage them, but if they won’t listen, tell us or make an anonymous report.

Call 101, or 999 if there is an immediate risk.

Or, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.