Road safety
We will be vigilant - as ever - 24/7 throughout the FIFA World Cup 2026™ football tournament. If you're driving, don't drink and/or take drugs. It's not worth the risk.
The legal alcohol limit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for driving is 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood or 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. In Scotland the limit is 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood or 22 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.
There is no way to know how much you can drink and stay under the limit, since it can depend on your weight, age, metabolism, the amount of food you've eaten and other factors.
Watching the big match?
Driving home after watching a match? Don't drink any alcohol. So many factors (gender, build, age, health) will vary the way alcohol affects you, just one drink can impair your driving - and could take you over the legal limit.
Remember, alcohol takes longer than you might think to pass through your system. If you've been drinking the night before, there's a strong possibility you could be over the limit the next morning.
If you know you will be drinking later on, plan beforehand how you are getting home safely - you could arrange for one of your group to be the 'designated driver'. However, it's often unplanned moments of drinking when people decide to take a risk - if you do have a drink, book a licensed taxi.
If you drink and drive, there's a good chance you'll be caught - think, how would your life be different if you lost your license?
Testing for alcohol and drug use
Alcohol
The police can stop you at any time and ask you to take a breath test (‘breathalyse’ you) if:
- they think you’ve been drinking
- you’ve committed a traffic offence
- you’ve been involved in a road traffic collision
If you refuse to take a breath test, or fail to supply a sample of breath and don't have a ‘reasonable excuse’, you can be arrested. A reasonable excuse could be a genuine physical or mental condition stopping you from giving a sample; in this case you may be required to have a blood test.
The breath test gives a result straight away. If it shows you’re not over the drink drive limit, you may be allowed to go.
If you fail the breath test, you’ll be taken to a police station and given a final breath test. If it’s positive, you'll be charged.
Drugs
The police can stop you and conduct a roadside screening test or a field impairment test, both of which may result in your arrest if:
- they think you have taken drugs
- you’ve committed a traffic offence
- you’ve been involved in a road traffic collision
Officers can test for cannabis and cocaine at the roadside, and screen for other drugs – including ecstasy, LSD, ketamine and heroin – at a police station.
Even if you pass the roadside check you may still be arrested if the police suspect that your driving is impaired by drugs and you can be taken to a police station for further tests.
We will arrest and prosecute those who are driving illegally.
Drinking alcohol
Think before you drink and don’t drink to excess.
Drinking too much alcohol can have devastating consequences on your life and could lead you into trouble with the police. It can make you more aggressive and more likely to commit a crime.
Getting home
- Always ensure you pre-plan how to get home after a night out.
- Always tell someone where you are going and what time you plan to be home.
- Let someone know if you are going to be out later than planned.
- Make sure to keep extra cash aside to pay for your journey home.
- Only use licensed and reputable taxi services and try to pre-book these.
- Use taxi marshal schemes if there is one in operation.
- Never walk home alone.
- Ensure you and your friends all look after one another and get home safely.