YORK residents are being warned to play it safe this Christmas and stay off alcohol completely while driving.

Licensing officer for York, PC David Boag, said there was no safe limit for drinking and driving and the only way to stay safe was not to drink at all.

The warning came as the Government launched its Christmas anti drink-drive campaign today with a re-run of the TV advert used earlier this year to show the dangers of motoring while over the legal limit.

The campaign, part of a £3 million programme, came as drink-drive fatalities were edging up.

Although drink-drive deaths have fallen dramatically over the last 20 years, there were an estimated 560 fatalities in 2002 - six per cent more than in 2001.

PC Boag also warned drinks today were much stronger than they used to be and Christmas revellers should be aware they could not drink the same quantities.

He said: "Nowadays, drink is a lot stronger. Normal standard beers are about 3.5 per cent, but premium beers and alcopops are about five per cent."

Updated: 10:43 Monday, December 08, 2003