Wimborne: Don't Drink And Drive This Christmas

It's the week before Christmas the traditional time for work's Christmas parties, stuffing yourself full of turkey and the festive spirit.

Dorset Police's annual campaign to prevent drink or drug-driving started on December 1st and will continue to until the 1st of January 2012, with road side checks, increased traffic patrols, with every driver involved in a collision during the period being breathalysed. The police also urge anyone who suspects someone of drink or drug driving to call them on 999.

It's also worth remembering that you could still be under the influence the following day dependent on the amount and time you drank the previous night. It takes on average one hour for the body to process one unit of alcohol. A pint of beer is between 2 to 3 units depending on its strength and a small glass of wine contains roughly 1.5 units of alcohol.

The current UK law states that 35 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath; or 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood; or 107 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of urine is the limit. How that translates into units is entirely dependant on the person drinking the alcohol and how their body absorbs it.

The best advice would be if you're intent on drinking then get a taxi, or have a designated driver who will remain alcohol free for the night.

Better to be safe than sorry.