In the last three months, Google searches for ‘How long does alcohol stay in your system’ are up 200% as well as searches for ‘How long after drinking can I drive?’ increasing by 180%.
It’s clear to see that those able to drive in the UK are still uncertain about driving around the times they’re consuming alcohol.
Freedom of Information (FOI) data from the Metropolitan Police highlights a concerning trend in drink and drug-driving arrests over the past decade.
Between 2013 and 2023, over 56,000 drivers were arrested for drunk driving, with a further 6,600 failing to provide a breath test.
Although overall drink-driving arrests have declined, drug-driving arrests have surged, rising from 445 in 2013 to 1,680 in 2023. The figures also show that a significant number of arrests involve both drink and drug-related offences, with 1,511 drivers arrested for combined drink or drug driving in 2023 alone.
In light of these staggering numbers, breakdown cover provider, ALA Insurance, is warning drivers about the hidden danger of morning-after drink driving, which continues to catch motorists out and put lives at risk.
While most drivers would never intentionally drink and drive, many do not realise they could still be over the limit the next morning, even after sleep, food, and hydration.
Research shows that it takes approximately one hour per unit of alcohol to leave the body, meaning a heavy night out could leave a driver legally over the limit well into the next day. While many drivers wrongly assume they are safe to drive after a few hours of sleep, coffee, showers, or a full English breakfast do not speed up alcohol metabolism.
Beyond the devastating safety risks, being caught over the limit, even the next morning, has serious financial and legal consequences:
- Driving Ban: A minimum 12-month disqualification for drink-driving offences.
- Increased Insurance Premiums: A drunk driving conviction (DR10) can cause a 150% rise in insurance costs or make securing coverage difficult.
- Breakdown Cover Invalidated: Most breakdown providers will not assist if alcohol is a factor in an incident, leaving drivers stranded with costly recovery bills.
- Criminal Record & Fines: Fines of up to £2,500 and the potential for a prison sentence for serious offences.
ALA Insurance urges all motorists to take simple but effective steps to avoid the morning-after risk.
Charlotte Adams from ALA comments, “These latest figures show there is still a staggering amount of drink-driving incidents, and the morning-after risk plays a major role in it. Many drivers do not realise that alcohol lingers in their system, leaving them over the limit the next morning. Prevention is the best solution, if you are unsure, do not take the risk.”
Charlotte advises:
“Plan ahead
Arrange alternative transport for the next day if drinking.
Use a personal breathalyser
“While not foolproof, these can give an indication of alcohol levels.
Do not guess
“Wait it out – if in doubt, do not drive. Take a taxi, use public transport, or delay your journey.”
See more about ALA’s breakdown cover online.
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