Drink-driving calculator - When is it safe to drive after drinking this Christmas?

Gardaí have reminded people of Ireland's relatively low drink driving limits this Christmas as they will be out in force at checkpoints all over the country.

In an update on the Garda website, they reminded people: "The drink driving limit in Ireland is 50mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood, however for “specified drivers”, a lower limit of 20mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood applies. A “specified driver” includes learner drivers, novice drivers, professional and commercial drivers.

"It is an offence to drive, attempt to drive or be in charge of a vehicle in Ireland if you don’t have proper control of the vehicle due to the consumption of alcohol or drugs."

In an important reminder, they said, "Remember it takes about 1 hour for each unit of alcohol to pass through the average person’s system. 1 unit = half a pint of beer, a small measure of spirits or a small glass of wine." People are reminded to not start counting this time per drink until after they've had their last drink.

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So, if a driver drinks a pint of beer every hour for six hours and finishes drinking at 1am, that alcohol could still be in their system at 2pm the next day. The 12 units from the six full beers will take 12 hours to leave their system, starting at 1am.

"Driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) has been a statutory offence in Ireland since the introduction of the Road Traffic Act 1961. The legal definition states that a person must not be impaired (though alcohol, drugs or any combination of both) while in charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle," gardaí warned.

"Since 13th April 2017, An Garda Síochána has the power to test the oral fluid of drivers for the presence of Cannabis, Cocaine, Opiates (e.g. Morphine) and Benzodiazepines (e.g. Valium) at the roadside or in a Garda station. This testing will be facilitated by a Drager 5000 drug tester device."