Drink driving - UEFA Euro 2016

With UEFA Euro 2016 all set to start this weekend, the likelihood of football fans enjoying a couple more drinks than usual are pretty high. Here's some advice from IAM RoadSmart's Driver Retraining Academy project leader, Chris Davies, to guide you through safe drink-driving this football season.

• Did you know that an average strength pint of beer (four per cent) can take at least two hours to leave your blood stream? This means four pints of average strength beer would take more than eight hours to leave your system. Think carefully about how much you plan on drinking beforehand as overdoing it can have severe consequences the next morning.

• Don't forget that the legal limit in England and Wales is 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, while the limit in Scotland is lower at 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. So even though you might think you're under the limit you may be well over – drink with caution, stay safe and leave the car at home.

• Knowing what you're drinking will give you a better idea of how many units you're consuming – so certainly avoid mixing your drinks at all costs.

• If you must drink then alternate alcoholic beverages with soft drinks and water to give your body more of a chance to flush out the alcohol from your system. And when you do choose to have an alcoholic drink try to opt for lower strength one's of four per cent ABV or lower.

• Definitely avoid drinking alcohol well before the end of the night so you can give your body more time to process any alcohol left in your blood stream the following morning. If in doubt do not drive under any circumstances.

Chris said: "We understand that fans will want to enjoy a football match over a fresh pint of beer, but taking more than the recommended guidelines will put your health and that of others at severe risk.

"Certainly avoid drinking at all costs if you will be getting behind the wheel – you will only end up putting your licence, livelihood and liberty at stake, so simply don't risk it!"