A CHRISTMAS drink-drive warning has been issued to company car drivers amid calls from road safety charity Brake for the alcohol limit to be lowered.

The call follows a survey in which half of drivers admitted to drink-driving. And more than a quarter of drivers said they had risked driving over the limit the morning after a heavy drinking session.

The Brake survey, which polled more than 1,000 customers of motoring assistance firm Green Flag, also showed an alarming ignorance from drivers on how much they could drink before getting behind the wheel.

Brake chief executive Mary Williams said: 'The war against drink drivers has not been won. The findings highlight a lethal ignorance of the drink drive laws and the effects of drink driving.

'Drivers should never drink and drive, not even one, and Brake is calling on the Government to take urgent action to tackle the problem.'

The study found that more than half of respondents thought it would take two or more units to affect their driving, with one in 12 believing they could drink four units before driving.

The legal limit is 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, but how much alcohol is takes to reach this level can vary depending on the person, so it is safety not to drink at all, experts say.

A Green Flag spokesman, added: 'As a company concerned with the safety of our customers and that of the wider community, we are keen that drivers take on board the issues raised by the report. Most drivers do behave responsibly and make other transport arrangements if they know they are going to drink, but there is still the hardcore who think they can take the risks that ultimately could end theirs or someone else's life.'

The study coincides with a new Government anti drink-drive campaign launched this week to tackle the problem of drink-driving.

A £3 million programme, including a series of adverts, is targeting drivers warning of the risks of drink-driving.

Brake drink-drive campaign

  • Lower the drink-drive limit from 80mg per 100ml to 50mg, in line with other EU countries
  • Introduce random testing near clubs and pubs
  • Increasing testing late and night and first thing in the morning
  • Compulsory driver rehabilitation courses for drink and drugged drivers
  • Government funding for year-round media campaigns

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