Next Wednesday (December 14), Wokingham Borough Council’s Christmas anti-drink drive event, supporting the Department for Transport’s national campaign, will be at Tesco on Finchampstead Road, Wokingham from 10am to 2pm, raising awareness of the penalties and dangers of drink driving.

The campaign, in its second year, highlights the risk of driving under the influence of alcohol this Christmas, particularly for young men between 17 and 29 years old. The campaign focuses on the 'moment of doubt', around the second pint, when drivers are considering whether they are safe to drive.

As part of the event, Cllr Dianne King, Mayor of the Wokingham Borough, will be publicly breathalysed to show what happens when police suspect that someone is over the limit.

Wokingham Borough Council’s road safety team will be on hand, as well as neighbourhood officers from Wokingham police station, with freebies, advice and information, as well as drink drive themed quizzes and beer goggles demonstrations to find out if the public really knows the facts about the effects of alcohol and the consequences of a drink driving conviction.

Julie Pillai, road safety officer, said: "Of course people like to have a few drinks to celebrate the festive period, but if you drive at twice the legal alcohol limit you are at least 30 times more likely to cause an accident than a driver who hasn't been drinking.

"Any amount of alcohol affects your ability to drive. There is no foolproof way of drinking and staying under the limit; or of knowing how much an individual can drink. The purpose of this event is to raise awareness of the dangers of drink driving this festive period and get people to think about other ways of getting home if they want to enjoy a drink."

There will also be a drink drive display in reception at the Shute End civic offices during the week commencing December 12 with information and freebies to pick up.

For more information please visit the council's drink drive campaign website page.