Drinking and driving - is it worth the risk? Published Dec. 21, 2012 By Senior Airman Rachel Waller 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs RAF MILDENHALL, England -- In an effort to deter drunk driving the morning after partaking in drinking activities, United Kingdom police officers will focus on a national Christmas drink-driving campaign to target "well-intentioned" morning-after drivers. The goal of the campaign is to stop drivers who try to sleep off the effects of alcohol, but don't realize they are still over the legal limit the next day. "On average, it takes approximately one to two hours for one unit of alcohol to process through a person's system," said Staff Sgt. Leah Smith, 48th Medical Operations Squadron alcohol and drug counselor. "If a person has five units of alcohol, it will take about 10 hours for it to clear their system entirely." Police Constable Paul Glover, RAF Mildenhall Ministry of Defence Police, said there is no specified time for the random checks during the campaign but it will be left up to the respective police forces to conduct them. "Drink drive offenses occur 24-hours-a-day and due to that fact, the checks can be carried out at any time," said Glover. On base, the legal limit is .08 percent blood alcohol content. "The legal limit in the U.K. is 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood and 107 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of urine," said Glover. If a person is pulled over and fails a roadside breathalyzer test, they will be arrested and taken to the nearest available police interview center. "The PIC can be near the offense location or in another county," said Glover. "Once there, the driver will be placed on the evidential machine which will determine the level of alcohol in the offender's breath." If a suspect is unable to provide a sample due to a medical condition or injury, then a doctor will collect a sample of blood from the suspect. "If the sample of breath or blood is above the legal limit, then they'll be charged under Section 5 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, which provides the offenses of a person driving or attempting to drive or being in charge of a motor vehicle on a road or public place after consuming so much alcohol that the proportion of it in their breath, blood or urine exceeds the prescribed limit," said Glover. The suspect can also be charged under Section 4 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, which provides the offense of driving or being in charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle on a road or other public place when unfit due to alcohol or drugs. In addition to the previously mentioned charges, a suspect can be charged with an offense of failing to provide a roadside breath test when requested by a police officer, or depending on the seriousness of the incident, a suspect can be charged with an offense of causing death whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs. "The punishment for a drink-drive conviction will be a minimum ban from driving for 12 months, a fine up to £1,000 and a prison sentence of up to six months," said Glover. Airmen can be held accountable for drunk driving offenses on base and can be prosecuted under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. If a drunk driving incident happens off base, Airmen can be held to the standards of the UMCJ in addition to the British laws. "The best advice is not to drink and drive," said Glover. "If people are going out for a drink, leave your car and car keys at home or get a taxi or have a designated driver." Remember, although a person may feel fine the next day, the effects of alcohol can remain in one's system long after that person finished drinking. *Editors Note: In the U.K. the phrase for "drunk driving" is drink-driving.