As we revel in the celebrations of Her Majesty's 70 years on the throne with a four-day weekend, it's as important as ever to ensure you're safe before getting behind the wheel of a car.

With street parties and barbeques galore, whether you're a royalist or not everyone will be letting their hair down this weekend - but do you know the legal drink drive limits?

What is the legal drink drive unit limit?

With the Platinum pudding being a boozy trifle and plenty of beer deals going on at pubs up and down the country, the safest and fool-proof way of ensuring your safety is to avoid any alcohol containing products. 


New Highway Code rules 2022


The drink driving limit is 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, in Scotland this limit is reduced to 22 micrograms - so just one drink could get you over the limit.

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There is no hard and fast rule on how much alcohol you can consume and legally drive - the best rule of thumb is to not drink at all if you are going to drive.

Driving or attempting to drive while above the legal limit or unfit through drink could land you six months in prison, an unlimited fine and a driving ban.

How many units in a pint of beer?

  • Pint of lower-strength lager/beer/cider (568ml, ABV 3.6%) - 2 units
  • Pint of ordinary-strength lager/beer/cider (568ml, ABV 4%) - 2.3 units
  • Pint of higher-strength lager/beer/cider (568ml, ABV 5.2%) - 3 units
  • Bottle of lager/beer/cider (330ml, ABV 5%) - 1.7 units
  • Can of lager/beer/cider (500ml, ABV 5.5%) - 2.8 units

The Northern Echo: If in doubt go for an alcohol free drink, never drink and drive.If in doubt go for an alcohol free drink, never drink and drive.

  • Small glass of wine (125ml, ABV 13%) - 1.6 units
  • Standard glass of wine (175ml, ABV 13%) - 2.3 units
  • Large glass of wine (250ml, ABV 13%) - 3.3 units
  • Alcopop (275ml, ABV 4.5%) - 1.5 units
  • Single shot of spirits (25ml, ABV 40%) - 1 unit
  • Double shot of spirits (50ml, ABV 40%) - 2 units

What happens if you get caught drink driving?

There is no hard and fast rule on how much alcohol you can consume and legally drive - the best rule of thumb is to not drink at all if you are going to drive.

Of all driver and rider fatalities recorded in 2018, 19 per-cent were caused by drink drivers, government statistics show.

The Northern Echo: Man being breathalysed. Credit: PAMan being breathalysed. Credit: PA

Research by road safety charity Brake found that more than 5,000 motorists have been caught drink-driving on two or more occasions in the past four years.

Driving or attempting to drive while above the legal limit or unfit through drink could land you six months in prison, an unlimited fine and a driving ban.

If you’re found guilty of drink-driving, you could face up to six months imprisonment, an unlimited fine, and a driving ban of at least one year.

Always nominate a designated and if in doubt, never drink or consume any alcohol products before driving.