Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews is warning drivers of the dire consequences of drink driving on employment and job prospects as the nation marks Alcohol Awareness Week 2025.
This year’s campaign, which runs from July 7-13, is centred on the theme ‘Alcohol and Work’ and aims to lift the lid on workplace drinking cultures that are increasing people’s risk of harm.
Alcohol Change UK, which runs Alcohol Awareness Week, said around 10 million people in the UK are regularly drinking alcohol in ways that can harm their health and wellbeing, including through work-based social activities.
The Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Police and Crime Commissioner said excessive and frequent alcohol consumption not only reduced workplace productivity and resulted in poor or dangerous performance but also greatly increased the risk of drivers being caught over the legal alcohol limit.
In 2024/25, 999 drivers across the force area were either arrested for drink driving or failed to provide a test.
The PCC has called for an increase in random alcohol testing and not just on the region’s roads. He intends to ask companies with a large fleet, such as haulage and delivery companies as well as taxi firms to work with him to ensure their drivers are fit to drive, in a bid to protect road users from those who recklessly gamble with people’s lives.
Mr Matthews said: “Drinking heavily and often has serious consequences on health and wellbeing and greatly reduces concentration and coordination, all of which can contribute to dangerous driving as well as poor performance at work.
“Just a single drink can put someone over the drink drive limit. Beyond the immediate dangers of impaired driving, those who are convicted of drink driving risk losing their jobs or disciplinary action at work. Even those who are not dismissed may have to give up their job anyway because they rely on a car to get to work. A criminal record will also severely hamper their future job prospects.
“Despite relentless safety campaigning, still too many motorists believe it won’t happen to them – that they’ll continue to slip below the radar. This is not the case, and our roads policing officers will continue to use every tool in the book to bring these individuals to justice and hold them fully accountable for their actions. I’m a firm believer in prevention being far better than cure. I’m determined that the message will get through - one extra drink can cost a lot more than a pint!”
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Posted on Wednesday 9th July 2025