Safer Roads Humber are urging us not to drink and drive this Christmas

They're also advising us to think very carefully about whether we are safe to drive the day after drinking

Author: Charlotte LinnecarPublished 28th Dec 2022

We're being advised by Safer Roads Humber to think carefully about getting behind the wheel this Christmas if we've been drinking the night before. The amount of time it takes for alcohol to leave your body depends on several factors such as how fit and well you are, your age and how much you have had to drink.

Safer Roads Humber have been looking at the time it takes for alcohol to leave the body and are urging people to consider if you're safe to drive before you get behind the wheel.

It can take as long as 2 hours for a bottle of beer to go through our system and a large glass of wine can take up to 4 hours to process through your body.

It can be 12 hours for the body to fully process a bottle of wine.

Ruth Gore from Safer Roads Humber says it takes a long time for alcohol to leave your body and it can vary from person to person:

"For example, if you have a bottle of wine that can actually take 12 hours before you're actually alcohol free and what we recommend is that you actually start counting that from when you've finished drinking so you've given yourself plenty and plenty of time."

Ruth also said often, people don't realise the amount of time it can take to leave the body:

"It takes a long time for alcohol to leave your body, and that all depends on how fit and well you are, how much you drink and everybody's different and it's different every time that you have alcohol."

It's important to be well prepared

Ruth is also advising drivers to take extra care on the roads this festive period as rainy or icy conditions are likely.

Driving slower and leaving more space between yourself and the driver in front are just some of the recommendations.

But Ruth says it's important to be well prepared before heading off on the roads this winter:

"If you're making journeys across the region to visit family and friends, make sure everything's fit for the journey, make sure you've got some hot drinks and warm clothing in the car.

Make sure that your mobile phone is topped up, in case something does happen, so that you can actually get assistance."

Finally, Ruth said for people unsure on these details, they should look at the Safer Roads Humber website to get the information that's needed.

Including an alcohol calculator.

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