How much is one unit of alcohol? Drink drive information events return for the festive season

Do you know how much one unit of alcohol is for your chosen tipple?

People are being encouraged to visit our Christmas Drink-Drive campaign events to learn more about legal alcohol limits and the dangers of drink and drug driving.

At the events people will be challenged to pour out what they think is one unit of alcohol, to highlight how easy it is to exceed the limit. The exercise demonstrates you cannot reliably count units.

Even the smallest amount of alcohol or drugs can impair judgement and reaction times. Our message to drivers is 'none for the road' - there is no safe amount to drink when driving.

Alcohol can affect us all differently and may take longer to leave your system depending on:

• Your weight, gender, age and metabolism (the rate your body uses energy)
• The type of alcohol you are drinking
• What you have eaten recently
• Your stress levels at the time

You may still be over the legal limit if you drink the night before. We are encouraging people to plan ahead and make alternative arrangements as well as using the Morning After calculator (opens new window) to get a better understanding of when it is safe to drive again.

The events also give people the opportunity to understand how drink and drugs affect their ability to drive using a drink-drive simulator.

A demonstration vehicle from a fatal crashed caused by drink driving and police officers with first-hand experience will give people an insight into the consequences of drink driving.

Cllr Bridget Wayman, Cabinet Member for Highways, said: "Drink driving puts us all at risk. Choosing to drink and drive is a selfish decision that can have far reaching consequences and cause irreparable harm, there is always a better option.

"We hope these events will help people to be more aware of their ability to drive, as well as highlighting the consequences of drink driving."

The events are held in partnership with Wiltshire Police, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue and Swindon Borough Council as part of the Swindon and Wiltshire Road Safety Partnership. They take place annually across Wiltshire.

• Wednesday 11 December, 10am - 2pm Marlborough High Street
• Friday 13 December, 10am - 2pm Warminster Market Place (outside the library)

Drink driving puts us all at risk. Choosing to drink and drive is a selfish decision that can have far reaching consequences and cause irreparable harm, there is always a better option