Drinkaware urges road safety and planning ahead this St. Brigid’s Day Bank Holiday Weekend.
As the St Brigid’s Day Bank Holiday approaches, Drinkaware is reminding people across Ireland that alcohol and driving never mix – including the often-overlooked danger of driving the morning after drinking. With socialising increasing over the long weekend, Drinkaware is urging people to plan and make safer transport choices.
Latest findings from the Drinkaware Barometer 2025 show strong awareness of alcohol-related road safety risks, but also highlight concerning gaps among certain groups. The research found that 87% of adults agree that any amount of alcohol impairs one’s ability to drive, which represents a slight decline from 89% in 2024. Agreement peaks among women at 91%, compared to 83% of men, while awareness is lowest among those under 35, with 81% agreeing.
Concern is also evident around next-day driving. Just over three-quarters of adults (77%) agree that driving the morning after drinking is just as dangerous as drink driving, slightly down on last year. However only 65% of adults under 35 recognise the risk the morning after drinking. The national road safety data shows that drink driving remains a real and persistent issue. Road Safety Authority (RSA) figures from December 2025 reveal that almost 1 in 8 Irish motorists (12%) admitted to driving after consuming alcohol in the past 12 months. The RSA found the most common scenario involves people drinking in a pub, restaurant or at home, then driving on rural roads, with a higher likelihood of this happening at weekends.
RSA analysis of coronial data further underlines the risk. Between 2016 and 2020, 35% of driver fatalities where toxicology results were available tested positive for alcohol. That figure rises sharply to 70% for driver fatalities occurring late at night and into the early morning, between 10 pm and 6 am.
Recent enforcement figures also point to the scale of the issue. An Garda Síochána reported 765 arrests for driving under the influence of an intoxicant between 1 December 2025 and 5 January 2026, with 56% related to alcohol and the remainder to drugs.
Dearbhla O’Brien, CEO of Drinkaware, said:
“Awareness of the risks of drink driving, including the morning after, is not where it needs to be. There is no place for alcohol on our roads, and we need to culturally adopt a zero tolerance for such behaviour. The data also shows an increased need for awareness of driving the next day after consuming alcohol. We need to debunk the myths about sobering up after a night out and to remind the public that only time removes alcohol from the body. It takes one hour to process a half pint of beer or a standard drink, and the time starts from the time the last drink was consumed. With binge drinking still common and long weekends increasing the likelihood of risk-taking, planning ahead is essential. Alcohol affects everyone differently, and only time removes it from your system – not sleep, coffee or food.”
The Drinkaware Barometer also shows that 51% of adults say specific times of year or events lead them to drink more, making bank holiday weekends a key risk period for road safety.
Know the facts about driving the morning after:
- It takes at least one hour to process one standard drink.
- An average pint of beer equals two standard drinks. This means it will take your body two hours to process one pint of beer.
- Alcohol levels continue to rise for hours after consuming the drink of choice.
- The only way to remove alcohol from your system is time; no amount of food or water will speed up the process.
- Neither will the common myths about showering, eating a large breakfast, consuming coffee or energy drinks, or exercising.
- The processing time starts from when the last drink is finished.
Drinkaware’s online Drinks Calculator helps people estimate how long it may take their body to process alcohol and is a valuable tool when planning nights out or next-day travel.
This St Brigid’s Day weekend, which celebrates renewal, care and community, Drinkaware is encouraging everyone to look after themselves and others by making informed decisions around alcohol and transport. If you’re drinking, leave the car keys behind and make arrangements to get home safely.
For practical tools, information on alcohol and driving, and ideas for alcohol-free social options, visit www.drinkaware.ie.
Ends
For interviews or media enquiries, please contact:
Sarah-Kate Spratt | Etch Communications | sarahkate@etchcomms.ie | 089 611 5041
Ciara O’Driscoll | Etch Communications | ciara@etchcomms.ie | 087 689 3600
Notes to the editor:
About Drinkaware: Drinkaware is a national charity working to prevent and reduce alcohol misuse in Ireland. It is governed by an independent board and regulated by the Charities Regulator. Registered Charity Number: 20204601
References
- Drinkaware Barometer 2025 is a national population-based survey of 1,062 adults aged 18+ conducted by Ipsos B&A in July 2025. The research forms part of the ongoing Drinkaware Barometer series and includes internationally recognised measures on alcohol consumption patterns, attitudes, and mental well-being.
- Road Safety Authority (RSA) Survey, December 2025. RSA drink driving statistics show that 12% of Irish motorists admitted to driving after consuming alcohol in the past 12 months. Findings were published as part of the RSA Christmas Road Safety Campaign (1 December 2025 – 5 January 2026). https://www.rsa.ie/news-events/news/details/2025/12/01/launch-of-christmas-road-safety-campaign—1-december-2025-to-5-january-2026
- Road Safety Authority (RSA) Analysis of Coronial Data (2016–2020). RSA analysis revealed that 35% of driver fatalities with toxicology results available tested positive for alcohol, rising to 70% for deaths occurring between 10 pm and 6 am. Published June 2025. https://www.rsa.ie/news-events/news/details/2025/06/11/driving-change–rsa-annual-conference-examines-drink—drug-driving—unveils-major-new-tv-ad-campaign
- An Garda Síochána Road Safety Enforcement Figures. Garda data reported 765 arrests for driving under the influence of an intoxicant between 1 December and 5 January, with 56% related to alcohol and 44% to drugs. Reported January 2026. https://www.rte.ie/news/2026/0107/1551892-garda-road-christmas-figures/