Novice drivers are failing random breath checks after even moderate drinking the night before.
A disturbing number of young people are being caught drink-driving on the morning after the night before, the Sunday Independent can reveal.
Binge-drinking and the new lower legal limits for inexperienced drivers mean hundreds of under-25s are at risk of picking up potentially life-changing convictions.
Alcohol awareness and road safety officials say the trend is a wake-up call not only for young drivers but for all road users.
"We've had people who thought they were being good and took a taxi home and drank water for the last hour, but they're still being caught over the limit at 7.30am next morning," said AA Ireland spokesman Conor Faughnan.
Last year, gardai conducted 397,513 breathalyser tests during more than 78,000 random spot checks, resulting in 7,697 charges for drink-driving offences.
Up to the end of June this year 3,679 motorists were charged with drink-driving offences after 39,573 spot checks were mounted and 175,576 breath tests were conducted.
Garry O'Rourke, of Quote Devil insurance, said he fields two dozen calls a week from young people aged 18 to 25 who have endorsements for drink- driving offences.
In most cases they have been breathalysed on the morning after a heavy drinking session.
Source: Allison Bray, Irish Independent, 16/08/2015
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