December is the month of office parties and festive drinks with family and friends, and unsurprisingly, it’s also one of the busiest periods for drink-driving arrests. Many drivers assume they “know their limits,” but the reality is far more complex.
So how much can you actually drink and stay under the limit? The answer is more complicated than most people think.
Is there a safe number of drinks?
One of the biggest misconceptions around drink driving is that a person can reliably estimate how much alcohol they can consume and still be legally safe to drive. In truth, there is no universal number of drinks that keeps everyone under the limit.
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the legal alcohol limit for driving is 80 milligrammes per 100 millilitres of blood, which is about one unit, or less than a small glass of wine.
However, factors such as body weight, sex, metabolism, recent food intake, medications, stress, and even tiredness can dramatically affect how quickly alcohol is absorbed.
Two people drinking identical amounts at the same event can produce completely different breath-alcohol readings.
Why can “just one drink” be misleading?
Many drivers believe one drink is harmless. However, measures served at Christmas parties or bars are rarely consistent:
- A “glass of wine” can range from 125ml to 250ml
- Spirits may be double-measured without the customer realising
- Cocktails often contain multiple units of alcohol in a single serving
- Fizzy mixers can increase the rate of alcohol absorption
It’s extremely easy to consume more than expected, particularly in a festive environment where drinks flow freely, measures are generous, and social pressure is high.
Why should drivers be cautious the morning after?
A common December pitfall is being over the limit the morning after a night out. Even with a full night’s sleep, it can take many hours for alcohol to leave your system. A driver who feels perfectly sober may still be over the legal threshold.
For example, someone who finishes drinking at midnight after a Christmas party could still be over the limit at 8am. This is one of the most frequent scenarios specialist drink-driving solicitors encounter in December and early January.
Why isn’t estimating units enough?
Although unit calculators and drink-driving charts are widely available, they’re only rough approximations. They don’t account for real-world variation, the strength of festive drinks, or individual biological differences. Relying on these tools creates a false sense of security.
What to do if you’re accused of exceeding the limit
If you’ve been stopped, breathalysed, or charged following a Christmas event, specialist legal advice is critical. Breath tests, procedures, and evidence can all be challenged if errors occurred or if there are mitigating circumstances.
How can a specialist drink driving solicitor help?
If you’ve been charged with drink driving this December, contact our specialist drink-driving solicitor today for immediate, expert legal support and a clear strategy to protect your licence and your future.