“Only time clears alcohol from your system — not sleep, cold showers or strong coffee”, says Drinkaware CEO Dearbhla O’Brien
27th August 2026 – As thousands prepare to attend Electric Picnic, Drinkaware — the national charity working to prevent and reduce alcohol misuse — is urging drivers ahead of the big weekend to be aware of the dangers of next-day drink-driving.
After a weekend of celebration, many adults may still have alcohol in their system the morning after, without realising it. Data from the Drinkaware Barometer[1] reveals that while 87% of adults agree that any amount of alcohol impairs driving ability, only 77% recognise that driving the morning after is just as dangerous. Alarmingly, this knowledge gap widens significantly among certain groups; for instance, only 65% of adults under 35 recognise the risk of driving the morning after drinking. Drinkaware is urging adults to rethink their approach, as Electric Picnic remains a key risk period, with 51% of adults admitting that specific seasonal times or events lead them to drink more.
Drinkaware CEO Dearbhla O’Brien commented:
“On Monday morning, when the festival and celebrations are over, the alcohol in your system might still be there. You may feel fine — but that doesn’t mean you’re safe to drive.
Awareness of the risks of drink-driving, including the morning after, is not where it needs to be. We need to culturally adopt a zero-tolerance approach for such behaviour, which includes putting an end to the common myths about sobering up the next day.
A shower, a strong coffee, or a few hours’ sleep might make you feel more awake, but they don’t remove alcohol from your system. Only time does that. That’s why we’re encouraging people to really think about how much they drank the night before and to utilise tools like our free online Drinks Calculator to understand when it’s actually safe to drive again.
It’s not about guesswork or gut instinct — it’s about facts, awareness, and keeping each other safe. Importantly, if you’re unsure, wait longer or find an alternative way home.”
To support safe decision-making festivalgoers can also use a Fline Box breathalyser which is available on-site at Electric Picnic. Festivalgoers can blow into the unit to see whether they are under the legal limit — or how long they’ll need to wait before it’s safe to drive. Drinkaware welcomes tools like this that help raise awareness of alcohol and driving risks, particularly after major events.
Festivalgoers can also use Drinkaware’s free Drinks Calculator to estimate:
● The number of standard drinks consumed
● The estimated time to process alcohol (counting from the time they finish their last drink)
● Whether they may still be over the legal limit to drive
It’s important to remember that only time removes alcohol from your system. On average, it takes at least one hour to process a standard drink. A standard drink is roughly equivalent to:
- A small glass of wine (100ml at 12.5%),
- A half pint of lager (4.5%), or
- A pub measure of spirits (40%).
Because an average pint of beer is equal to two standard drinks, if someone drinks three pints of beer, it will take their body a minimum of six hours to fully process that alcohol. Additionally, blood alcohol levels can continue to rise for hours even after someone has stopped drinking their drink of choice.
Common beliefs that a cold shower, strong coffee, a big breakfast, or intense exercise can speed up sobriety are entirely false. While these methods might help you feel temporarily more alert, they do not impact the fixed rate at which your liver processes alcohol.
Drinkaware is offering the following tips to promote mindful drinking this festival weekend:
- Explore an Alcohol-Free Event: Consider how you want to feel the next morning — and let that guide your choices. Choosing a night off from alcohol can be empowering — and more enjoyable than you might think. Festivals are a great way to try sober socialising as there is so much on you are less likely to miss the alcohol and you will have better clearer memories!
- Stay Hydrated: Bring more water than you think you’ll need and alternate every alcoholic drink with a bottle of water or a non-alcoholic option.
- Eat a Good Breakfast to set yourself up for a long day.
- Pace Yourself: Don’t top yourself up; let yourself finish the drink before pouring another. Or ask yourself, ‘Do I really want this drink?’ – Be aware of how much alcohol your body can tolerate and monitor how you’re feeling throughout the evening.
- Look Out for Each Other: Agree on a meeting point, keep your phone charged, and share your live location with friends to not lose each other.
- Never Leave Your Drink Unattended. Spiking can happen so be vigilant.
- Plan Your Journey Home: Know when and how you’ll be getting home and remember that you can’t speed up sobriety.
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Amy McDonald | Drinkaware |campaigns@drinkaware.ie | 087 389 5314
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
* Binge drinking (or heavy episodic drinking) is defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as the consumption of 60 grams of pure alcohol or six standard drinks in one sitting. Binge drinking is when you drink faster than your liver’s ability to process alcohol. Common standard drinks include a half pint of 4.5% lager, a 100 ml glass of 12.5% wine and a pub measure of 40% spirits.
It takes at least 1 hour to process 1 standard drink. This is a guide for information purposes only. Many factors will affect this time, including age, gender, weight, alcohol strength, the speed of your metabolism and the number of drinks consumed. Find out more here.
References:
- The Drinkaware Barometer 2025 is a national population-based survey of 1,062 adults aged 18+ conducted by Ipsos B&A in July 2025. The ongoing research tracks long-term national trends in alcohol use, attitudes, and mental well-being in Ireland.