WITH the Christmas party season in full swing, Somerset County Council’s road safety team has issued a reminder of the dangers of drink-driving – particularly on the morning after a night out.

Anyone convicted of drink-driving faces a minimum 12-month driving ban and will have a criminal record.

The ‘advice’ that someone can be sobered up by a cup of coffee, a cold shower or a big breakfast is mere myth. They may rid the hangover feeling, but they cannot remove alcohol from the bloodstream. The only thing that can do that is time.

It takes the human body roughly one hour to process one unit of alcohol, but this can vary from person to person. The Morning After calculator app has been developed to show how long it takes for alcohol to pass through the system.

The calculator cannot provide an exact result because alcohol affects everyone differently, but it can provide a rough time for when it will be safe to drive or ride.

The app can be downloaded from www.morning-after.org.uk.

In the run-up to Christmas, Avon and Somerset Police will again be running Operation Tonic, targeting intoxicated drivers.

Anyone who suspects someone of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol can report them via the Avon and Somerset Police website’s ‘optonic’ link. If there is an immediate danger, call 999.

A county council spokesman said: “Drinking and driving doesn’t mix, so if you’re going to be indulging in a Christmas drink plan ahead. Make sure you know how you’re getting home safely and think about your plans for travelling the following day.

“We want everyone to have a wonderful Christmas, to keep themselves safe and to have none for the road.”

For more information visit the Somerset road safety website, Facebook page or @SCC_RoadSafety on Twitter and @somersetroadsafety on Instagram.