These days we’re all very well informed about the dangers of driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs. The threat of prison, heavy fines and driving bans have all played their part in changing attitudes and behaviour. Sadly, despite all the publicity, there is still a lot of confusion about the current legal limits.

For clarity, the law in England and Wales states that you must not have more than 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, 35 microgrammes per 100 millilitres of breath or 107 milligrams per 100 millilitres of urine.

So what does this mean in practice? How many drinks would take you over the limit? The quick answer is that it’s impossible to say. The limit is not based on the amount of alcohol you consume, but the affect it has on your body. Your weight, gender, metabolism, age, stress levels, and the amount of food eaten can all directly affect the amount of alcohol needed to take you over the limit. In reality, the only safe amount to drink is none at all.

Although receiving much less publicity, driving whilst under the influence of drugs is still a significant problem. No-one should ever, under any circumstances, drive whilst under the influence of any illegal or so-called “recreational” drugs. Doing so risks a heavy fine, at least a 12 month driving ban and possibly even prison. But remember, legal medicines can also have an impact on your ability to drive, so always read the small print that comes with any prescribed or over-the-counter treatment and make sure you stay within the recommended dosage levels.