UK police and ministers target drink and drug driving
If you’re heading out this month, expect to see more roadside stops. On Thursday 11 December 2025, Local Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood joined Sussex Police Chief Constable Jo Shiner on a drive-along to spotlight how officers are tackling drink and drug driving during the festive rush. The message is simple: don’t drive if you’ve been drinking or taking drugs.
Police forces across the UK are running Operation Limit from 1 December to 1 January, with extra breath tests, drug screening and patrols at peak times and the morning after. You’ll see officers using intelligence on local hotspots to focus checks where risk is highest.
Why the focus now? New THINK! materials are aimed at young men because official data show a stark pattern: about 90% of drivers impaired by drugs in collisions are male, and 4 in 10 are aged roughly 17 to 30. Over the last decade, driver fatalities where drugs were present have risen by around 70%. We need to talk about this openly with our friends.
You’ll also notice 0% options being promoted. Under the THINK! 0% banner, Captain Morgan, Heineken and Peroni are backing alcohol‑free choices in pubs this month. In selected Stonegate venues, designated drivers can get a free Captain Morgan 0.0% and cola - part of a push to make choosing 0% normal on a night out. Campaign front Sam Thompson is there to help the message land with younger audiences.
Enforcement isn’t just for show. Last year’s Christmas crackdown saw nearly 58,700 roadside tests and 6,931 arrests across the UK, according to the National Police Chiefs’ Council. Drug screening returned positive results in just over 42% of wipes, which is why officers are doubling down again this December.
Let’s be clear on the law around drugs and driving. Police can use roadside screening kits for cannabis and cocaine and carry out field impairment tests. If they suspect you’re unfit, you’ll be arrested and taken for a blood test. It’s illegal to drive if you’re impaired by any drug or if you’re over set limits for certain controlled drugs - even if they’re prescribed. Penalties include a minimum one‑year ban, a fine and a criminal record.
Alcohol rules are strict too. The legal limit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath; Scotland’s is lower at 22 micrograms. There isn’t a safe “number of drinks” because alcohol affects people differently, and you can still be over the limit the morning after. The safest choice if you’re driving is 0%.
What this means for your night out: plan before you pour. Decide who’s the 0% driver, line up lifts or public transport, and stick to it. Coffee, a shower or fresh air won’t clear alcohol from your system faster, so don’t rely on myths. If plans change, book a cab and pick up the car the next day. Your mates will thank you for it.
If you use medication or other substances, check before you drive. Some prescription and over‑the‑counter medicines can make you drowsy or push you over specified limits. Mixing alcohol and drugs multiplies risk and can land you with both drug‑ and drink‑driving offences. When in doubt, skip the keys and choose 0%.
A final note on the campaigns themselves. Government‑brand tie‑ups won’t change behaviour on their own, and it’s fair to ask hard questions about marketing during a safety drive. But the combination of visible enforcement, clear education and peer support does save lives. Today’s ride‑along and the new THINK! push are a prompt for all of us to set the tone in our groups: if you’re driving, it’s 0.0%.