The current coronavirus lockdown could see more accidental drink-drivers on the UK’s roads - a new study has warned.

Drivers are being urged to be careful of early morning runs to the shop after an evening’s drinking, with the warning that they could unwittingly be over the drink-drive limit.

Home drinking in the UK is reported to have almost doubled to 100 million pints of beer a week - and drinks poured at home are generally thought to be larger than the measured pub unit.

With many people currently heading to the shops as early as possible to ensure they can get everything they need, there is a fear that some could still be over the drink-drive limit and could be increasing their chances of a crash.

  • Fatal impact

Studies have shown that even just at the English and Welsh limit, drivers are 13 times more likely to be involved in a deadly crash and the latest Department for Transport figures show that the number of fatal crashes where one or more driver was over the limit has increased by 25 per cent in two years.

Hunter Abbott, managing director of breathalyser firm AlcoSense and member of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety, commented: “If you consume three pints of beer or three large glasses of wine before retiring at 11pm, you’re unlikely to be totally clear of alcohol when driving to the supermarket for 7am.

“Even if you’re just at the English/Welsh legal drink drive limit, research shows you are 13 times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident than when sober.

“The impact of COVID-19 is worrying enough without the added stress of being banned from driving, or involved in a car crash”.