A £3M summer anti-drink drive campaign targeting young men was launched yesterday.

Spearheading the national campaign is a TV advertisement which shows the consequences for a young person caught driving while over the legal limit.

Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly warned drink-drivers: "A criminal conviction, minimum 12-month ban and stiff fine are all guarantees - and these will limit both your career prospects and social life."

Andrew Johnson, head of transport at the Government Office for the North-East said: "The new campaign aims to show that it is not necessarily binge drinkers, those who go overboard or even those who cause accidents for whom the consequences of drink and driving can be significant."

Dave Clarke, a tutor on a rehabiliation course run by the North-East Council on Addictions, said: "Many people we see thought that it was perfectly all right to have a couple of drinks then drive. In reality, any amount of alcohol will adversely affect driving."