Are You A Trifle Too Tipsy To Drive

04 December 2009

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A single glass of wine plus a mince pie could put motorists over the drink-drive limit this Christmas

Motorists could unwittingly put themselves over the drink-drive limit this Christmas by consuming a single alcoholic drink whilst indulging in festive treats containing alcohol - such as a mince pie or Christmas pudding.

More than two thirds (70 per cent) of motorists questioned in a survey commissioned by esure car insurance(1) said that they are likely to have a drink this festive period and then drive afterwards - without even thinking about the hidden alcohol they may have consumed in foods like Christmas cake.

Given the number of festive drinks and treats that contain alcohol, it can be all too easy for motorists to find themselves unintentionally 'over the limit' at Christmas.

The research shows that:
* A quarter (25 per cent) of motorists questioned would have a glass of wine before driving, roughly containing two units of alcohol(2).  This combined with one mince pie plus brandy butter (1 unit)(3) would equate to three units which would put the average female at or over the drink-drive limit(4)
* Eight per cent of motorists polled would have spirits or fortified wines such as sherry or port (roughly two units per 50ml) before driving - and when combined with a single portion of Christmas cake plus rum sauce (1.5 units) this equates to 3.5 units
* Seven per cent of motorists surveyed would drink a liqueur such as Bailey's (roughly two units) before driving.  Combined with a generous portion of Christmas pudding and rum sauce this would exceed four units and would put the average male over the drink-drive limit

Furthermore, with the recession having lead to an increase in the number of people baking at home to save money(5), it is likely that many people will bake their own festive foods this Christmas and may be drawn towards adding a few extra splashes of alcohol whilst cooking.  Many of the most popular celebrity chef recipes such as those of Delia Smith and Jamie Oliver contain significant amounts of alcohol - a slice of Jamie's Christmas cake contains approximately 0.9 units while a slice of Delia's Christmas pudding with brandy butter contains approximately 0.7 units(6).

Mike Pickard, Head of Risk and Underwriting at esure home insurance, said: "While most motorists are well-informed about drink-driving rules, most are unaware about the risks of eating foods containing alcohol before getting behind the wheel.  Particularly during the festive period, foods can be laced with large amounts of alcohol and that one extra mince pie could push a motorist over the legal limit.

"Our advice this party season is ideally not to consume alcohol at all - whether it's in food or drink - if you intend to drive home."

The research also found that the average Christmas lunch contains 6.35 units of alcohol (two glasses of wine at two units each plus Christmas pudding at 0.75 units per serving plus brandy butter at 0.6 units per serving plus one Irish coffee at one unit per coffee).

Gender Divide
The research shows that more men will be consuming spirits over the Christmas period - more than one in ten men (11 per cent), compared to just six per cent of female motorists.

One in ten (10 per cent) female motorists polled will be drinking Bailey's before driving compared to just four per cent of males, while more than a quarter (28 per cent) of males will drink beer before driving compared to just three per cent of female drivers.