Keep the Festive Spirit Bright: Why No One Should Drink and Drive This Christmas

The Christmas season is all about warmth, celebration, and time spent with the people we care about. 

But amidst the sparkle of fairy lights and the clink of glasses, there’s one responsibility that must stay firmly in focus: ensuring that neither you nor your guests drink and drive.

It’s a simple decision that saves lives, protects families, and keeps the season joyful for everyone.

A Season for Celebration — Not Tragedy

The holidays see a rise in drink-related accidents each year. Roads are darker, the weather is colder and more unpredictable, and many people, understandably, feel more relaxed at parties and gatherings. 

But even one drink can affect your judgement, reaction time, and awareness behind the wheel.

It’s never worth the risk.

Be the Host Who Sets the Standard

If you’re welcoming people into your home this Christmas, you also have the chance to set a positive example. A few small steps can ensure your guests stay safe:

1. Make It Clear: No Drinking and Driving

A gentle reminder at the start of the night can make all the difference. Most guests will appreciate the thoughtfulness.

2. Offer Plenty of Non-Alcoholic Options

Soft drinks, festive mocktails, sparkling water, alcohol-free beers and wines—there are so many excellent choices available now. Display them prominently so they feel just as celebratory.

3. Encourage Lift-Sharing and Pre-Booked Taxis

Ask guests to plan their travel home before the night begins. Pre-booking taxis or arranging designated drivers is far easier than trying to sort something in the early hours.

4. Create a “Sofa Sanctuary”

Have a couple of blankets ready for anyone who ends up staying over. Your guests’ safety is far more important than a perfectly tidy house.

If You’re Out and About…

Even if you’re not hosting, you can still stay safe and help others do the same.

Know Your Limits (And Stick to Them)

The UK’s drink-drive limit is low for a reason. Alcohol affects everyone differently, and there’s no foolproof way to calculate how much is “safe.” If you’re driving, avoid alcohol altogether.

Morning After Risks Are Real

Alcohol lingers far longer in the bloodstream than people assume. You may still be over the limit the next morning after an evening of mulled wine, Christmas ales, or bubbly.

Don’t Get Into a Car With Someone Who Has Been Drinking

It doesn’t matter if they say they “feel fine.” Trust your instincts and look after your wellbeing.

A Gift to Yourself and Others: Responsibility

This Christmas, the greatest gift you can give is care, care for your friends, your family, your community, and yourself. Keeping the roads safe is a shared responsibility, and choosing not to drink and drive protects countless people you’ll never even meet.

Raise a glass, enjoy every moment, and keep the magic of the season alive by making the safest choice.

Stay safe. Stay festive. And make sure everyone gets home for Christmas.

Keep the Festivities Safe: How to Avoid Drink-Driving Risks This Christmas

Christmas is a season of joy, good food, and raising a glass with the people who matter most. 

But amid all the celebrations, it’s worryingly easy for someone to misjudge their limits or assume they’re “fine to drive”. 

Every year, families across the UK face heartbreak because of drink-driving incidents that could have been prevented with a bit of planning and honest conversation.

Whether you’re hosting, visiting, or heading out for a Christmas party, here’s how to make sure you, your loved ones, and your guests stay safe on the roads this festive season.

Know the Facts – Even One Drink Can Affect Driving

Alcohol affects everyone differently. Factors such as body weight, food intake, medications, tiredness, and individual tolerance all play a part. The difficulty is simple: there’s no reliable way to judge whether you’re under the limit without proper testing.

Rather than taking the risk, the safest choice is straightforward: if you’re drinking, don’t drive.

Plan Your Transport Before the First Drink

One of the biggest dangers at Christmas gatherings is spur-of-the-moment decisions. Planning ahead removes the risk entirely.

Good options include:

Booking a taxi or ride-share well in advance (especially around Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve).

Designating a sober driver — and making sure they stick to soft drinks all night.

Using public transport, checking festive timetables beforehand.

Arranging a lift with someone you trust who won’t be drinking.

Adding transport plans to your party invitations or family WhatsApp group can also encourage everyone to think ahead.

If You’re Hosting a Party, Set Everyone Up for Success

A responsible host can make a huge difference.

Consider:

Offering plenty of non-alcoholic options, from sparkling water to alcohol-free gins, beers, ciders and festive mocktails.

Providing food throughout the evening to reduce fast or excessive drinking.

Keeping an eye on guests who may be tempted to drive home but shouldn’t.

Having taxi numbers or apps ready to use.

Being clear that no one needs to feel embarrassed about leaving their car overnight.

Small actions can prevent major risks.

Beware of the “Morning After” Risk

Many people assume that by the time they go to bed and wake up, the alcohol has left their system. Unfortunately, this isn’t always true.

Depending on how much you’ve had, alcohol can stay in your system well into the next day, sometimes into lunchtime or even the early afternoon. Morning-after drink-driving remains a common cause of accidents during the festive season.

If in doubt, either wait longer, walk, take public transport, or arrange a lift.

Be Honest and Look Out for Each Other

It’s not always easy to speak up when someone insists they are “fine”. But if you know they’ve been drinking, you’re genuinely helping them, and everyone else on the road, by challenging it.

Kindly but firmly:

Offer alternatives.

Suggest leaving the car.

Call a taxi.

Make up a spare bed or sofa for the night.

A quiet word can prevent a lifetime of regret.

A Christmas to Remember — for the Right Reasons

The festive season is all about connection, warmth, and celebration. Making sure no one gets behind the wheel after drinking is one of the simplest and most powerful ways to protect those moments.

By planning ahead, supporting your guests, and making thoughtful choices, you can enjoy a safe, happy, and memorable Christmas — without putting anyone at risk.