As excitement builds for the World Cup, Liverpool City Council is urging fans to think ahead and avoid driving if they plan to drink.
With thousands expected to watch the matches in pubs, bars, and at home with friends, the Council is warning that one impaired decision behind the wheel can have life‑changing consequences.
In 2024, more than 1,600 people were arrested in Liverpool for drink or drug driving, and 36 collisions in the city were linked to impairment. Of those, more than half involved alcohol impairment.
Data shows that people aged between 40 and 49 years old were most likely to be impaired drivers, with men more likely to be found drink or drug driving than women.
Nationally, 1 in 6 fatalities on the road were found to have been caused by drink driving.
The alcohol limit for drivers in England is 35 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath. How many drinks this translates to will be different for each person and can be affected by weight, age, sex and metabolism as well as stress levels, type of alcohol and food intake.
As part of its new Road Safety Strategy, the Government has announced a review of drink and drug driving laws. The review will consult on taking tougher action on drink driving by lowering the drink drive limit in England and Wales, including an even lower limit for novice drivers, along with a review the penalties and mandatory training for drink and drug driving offences.
The plea supports the Liverpool City Region Road Safety Strategy’s ambition to achieve Vision Zero by 2040 – a goal to eliminate avoidable deaths and serious injuries on the city’s roads in the next 15 years.
This also supports Liverpool City Council’s ‘Call It! Enjoy More, Drink Less’ initiative, encouraging people to recognise when they’ve had enough and look out for their mates.
By promoting simple choices, like planning a safe journey home, the approach helps keep nights out enjoyable while reducing alcohol-related harm.
Find out more on the Liverpool City Council website: liverpool.gov.uk/enjoymoredrinkless
Councillor Dan Barrington, Cabinet Member for Transport and Connectivity said: “The rules around drink driving are in place to protect everyone. Driving while impaired can cause serious injury or death not only to drivers, but passengers and pedestrians too.
“All we ask is that people plan ahead when heading out to the pub or a friends’ house to enjoy a match. Taking a bus, train, or taxi home might not always be as convenient as driving, but it’s a far better option than risking lives.”
Aftermath Support CEO Karen Blair said: “Every year, families are torn apart by the devastating consequences of drink driving. Behind the statistics are real people who face unimaginable pain. During the world cup, we urge everyone to make safe choices, so no one has to face the heartbreak of losing a loved one to such preventable tragedies.”
