England fans hit with warning over Monday morning driving rule

England fans heading out to enjoy the Lionesses in the final of Euro 2025 this evening could be caught out by a simple driving rule tomorrow morning. Drink driving is a serious offence with severe consequences in place for those found to be over the legal blood alcohol concentration limits.

Most individuals are aware they cannot get behind the wheel immediately after drinking alcohol. However, polls have revealed many road users are taking control of a vehicle the morning after, even if they may still be over the drink drive limit. It means those relying on vehicles to get to work in the morning could be affected if they stay out late to watch the game against Spain tonight.

Experts at M.A.J Law have previously warned road users who drink around eight units of alcohol and stop at midnight will not have fully processed the alcohol until 8 AM the next morning. Those who continue drinking until 2 AM could still be over the limit at 10 AM or later.

A previous survey by Confused.com has found that 28% of motorists had driven the morning after drinking and could still be over the limit. Of these individuals, 35% claimed they had simply judged their ability to drive based on how they felt.

According to Alcosense, 17.8% of drink drive convictions are issued the morning after a night out. Meanwhile, they claim that around a third of all breathalyser tests conducted after an accident are done between 7am and 1pm.

According to motoring defence lawyers M.A.J Law, there is a distinct possibility that road users will still be above the legal limit the next morning.

They stress this can likely happen "far more than people think" in a major blow to road users. The experts explained that the liver will process one unit of alcohol, around half a pint of beer, per hour. This is the same whether or not individuals are awake or asleep.

They stress there was no "quick fix" with the body processing alcohol in the same time frame, whether or not individuals are awake or asleep. Motorists found to be over the legal limits could have serious consequences with individuals at risk of being slapped with a 12-month driving ban.

Those caught twice within 10 years could get an even longer ban, with individuals facing three years off the roads. In some circumstances, motorists could find they receive a custodial sentence and may have to pay fines of at least £2,500.