A warning has been issued to anyone planning on watching the 2022 World Cup.
As the World Cup is about to kick start, many people will be looking forward to getting in the spirit. Some may even enjoy a few drinks with the football.
But a stark warning has been issued by Knowsley Council’s Road Safety team around the dangers of driving the morning after drinking alcohol, as some may not realise they are still over the legal limit. On average it takes around one hour per unit of alcohol, though this can vary depending on a number of factors.
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Councillor Tony Brennan, Knowsley Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development said: "We know that many people will have a drink while watching the football and we want people to enjoy the World Cup. The aim of this campaign is to make people think about how much they are drinking if they are planning to drive the following morning as they may still be over the limit or unfit to drive.
"The decision to get behind the wheel of a vehicle the morning after drinking can have very serious consequences, not only for the driver but also potentially for other road users around them. You could be driving to work or going shopping and still be over the limit. You could even be driving your children to school and still be unfit to drive. Could you live with yourself if something happened?
"We would encourage people to enjoy watching the tournament but to remember that your safety and the safety of others is vital. If you have been drinking the previous evening and are thinking about driving the next morning don’t take that risk."
To support this campaign, a promotional World Cup wall chart is available for people to follow and record all of the World Cup footballing action. Free copies will be available to pick up from Knowsley’s libraries and leisure centres. It also emphasises important information about drinking alcohol and the effect that can have on people’s ability to drive as they share a "morning after" calculator.
Paul Mountford, Merseyside Police Lead for drink and drug driving, said: "Merseyside Police will be conducting numerous roadside operations and breath and drug testing hundreds of drivers across Merseyside throughout this campaign to ensure that drivers understand the principles of this campaign – that the only safe drink drive limit is zero.
"Many drivers are unaware that even a small amount of alcohol may affect their driving ability, placing themselves at an increased risk of a crash and arrest. They may be arrested for ‘drink driving’ even if they pass a breathalyser if the officer considers them to be unfit. This is particularly relevant the following day when many will not consider their driving fitness after a night’s sleep.
"We are also reminding drivers that we will not tolerate those who take illegal drugs and drive. Similar to alcohol, driving while under the influence of illegal drugs can place the driver and other road users at risk. Our roadside tests aim to not only detect these drivers but also deter them from getting behind the wheel."
The main message from the campaign is not ‘don’t drink’, but ‘don’t drink anything if you are driving’ and ‘don’t drink heavily if you have to drive the following morning’.
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