Christmas Drive Dangers
Motorists could unwittingly put themselves over the drink-drive limit this Christmas by consuming a single alcoholic drink whilst indulging in festive treats containing alcohol - such as a mince pie or Christmas pudding.
More than two thirds (70 per cent) of motorists questioned in a survey commissioned by esure car insurance(1) said that they are likely to have a drink this festive period and then drive afterwards - without even thinking about the hidden alcohol they may have consumed in foods like Christmas cake.
Given the number of festive drinks and treats that contain alcohol, it can be all too easy for motorists to find themselves unintentionally 'over the limit' at Christmas.
The research shows that:
* A quarter (25 per cent) of motorists questioned would have a glass of wine before driving, roughly containing two units of alcohol(2). This combined with one mince pie plus brandy butter (1 unit)(3) would equate to three units which would put the average female at or over the drink-drive limit(4)
* Eight per cent of motorists polled would have spirits or fortified wines such as sherry or port (roughly two units per 50ml) before driving - and when combined with a single portion of Christmas cake plus rum sauce (1.5 units) this equates to 3.5 units
* Seven per cent of motorists surveyed would drink a liqueur such as Bailey's (roughly two units) before driving. Combined with a generous portion of Christmas pudding and rum sauce this would exceed four units and would put the average male over the drink-drive limit
Furthermore, with the recession having lead to an increase in the number of people baking at home to save money(5), it is likely that many people will bake their own festive foods this Christmas and may be drawn towards adding a few extra splashes of alcohol whilst cooking. Many of the most popular celebrity chef recipes such as those of Delia Smith and Jamie Oliver contain significant amounts of alcohol - a slice of Jamie's Christmas cake contains approximately 0.9 units while a slice of Delia's Christmas pudding with brandy butter contains approximately 0.7 units(6).
Mike Pickard, Head of Risk and Underwriting at esure home insurance, said: "While most motorists are well-informed about drink-driving rules, most are unaware about the risks of eating foods containing alcohol before getting behind the wheel. Particularly during the festive period, foods can be laced with large amounts of alcohol and that one extra mince pie could push a motorist over the legal limit.
"Our advice this party season is ideally not to consume alcohol at all - whether it's in food or drink - if you intend to drive home."
The research also found that the average Christmas lunch contains 6.35 units of alcohol (two glasses of wine at two units each plus Christmas pudding at 0.75 units per serving plus brandy butter at 0.6 units per serving plus one Irish coffee at one unit per coffee).
Gender Divide
The research shows that more men will be consuming spirits over the Christmas period - more than one in ten men (11 per cent), compared to just six per cent of female motorists.
One in ten (10 per cent) female motorists polled will be drinking Bailey's before driving compared to just four per cent of males, while more than a quarter (28 per cent) of males will drink beer before driving compared to just three per cent of female drivers.
Regional Differences
Motorists in the East Midlands will be at the greatest risk of exceeding the drink-drive limit by consuming alcohol-laced food - 79 per cent of motorists polled said that they would be having a drink and then driving during the festive period compared to 63 per cent of Scottish drivers.
Londoners really splash out over the festive season, with the highest consumption of Champagne across the country - 15 per cent will open the bubbly over Christmas compared to just one per cent in the North West.
Those in the West Midlands will be consuming the most beer (22 per cent) while over a quarter (27 per cent) of Scottish motorists will be drinking wine.
TREAT
Irish Coffee (serves one) - 25ml Irish Whiskey per coffee - 1 unit (1 unit per serving)
Christmas Pudding (serves 8) - 150ml brandy per pudding - 6 units (0.75 units per serving)
Christmas Cake (serves 12) - 150ml brandy per cake - 6 units (0.5 units per serving)
Sherry Trifle (serves 6) - 150ml sweet sherry - 2.7 units (0.45 units per serving)
Brandy Butter (serves 6) - 15ml brandy per serving-0.6 units per serving
Rum Sauce (serves 4) - 100ml rum - 4 units (1 unit per serving)
Mince Pies (serves 12) - 120ml of brandy or whiskey - 5 units (0.4 units per pie
www.direct.gov.uk/en/HealthAndWellBeing/DG_10036434
The UK legal limit is 80 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood - as a rough guide this means men should consume no more than four units of alcohol, and women no more than three units, before driving.
Example used - (Delia Smith's Christmas pudding (serves 8) contains two tablespoons of rum, 75ml barley wine, 75ml stout and three tablespoons of brandy while the brandy butter (serves 8) contains six tablespoons of brandy. Total is approximately 3.2 units (cake) plus 3 units (brandy) therefore 0.4 and 0.3 units per portion respectively. Jamie Oliver's Christmas cake (serves 12) contains 150ml dark rum, 130ml tawny port and 70ml golden rum plus an extra 60ml rum for the icing.
Total is approximately 11 units therefore one slice equates to 0.9 units.
FlyResearch who surveyed 1,091 UK motorists between 27th and 30th November 2009
http://www.drinkaware.co.uk/tips-and-tools/drink-diary/
All festive food recipes from: bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/ with the alcoholic content of seasonal treats listed below:
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