Younger drivers in Britain display a significantly more relaxed attitude towards drink-driving compared to their elders, according to concerning new research. This comes as the government prepares to implement the most substantial overhaul of driving laws in two decades, including a cut to the legal alcohol limit for drivers in England and Wales.
A Stark Generational Divide on Safety
The survey, commissioned by Direct Line Insurance, polled over 2,000 adults, including approximately 1,300 licensed drivers. It revealed a worrying gap in perception. While 83% of the overall population believes that avoiding alcohol entirely is the safest option before driving, this figure drops sharply among Generation Z—those aged 18 to 27. Only 64% of this youngest cohort of drivers agree with a zero-alcohol approach.
Furthermore, the data indicates a troubling social acceptance of risky behaviour among younger motorists. More than a third of Gen Z respondents felt it was socially acceptable to drive when slightly over the legal limit. This contrasts dramatically with the views of baby boomers, where fewer than one in ten shared that opinion.
Government Set to Slash Legal Limit
This research emerges ahead of the government's long-awaited road safety strategy, due for publication early next year. A central proposal is to reduce the drink-driving limit in England and Wales from 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath to 22 micrograms. This would bring it into line with Scotland, which already enforces the stricter threshold.
Under Scotland's lower limit, some individuals could reach or exceed the legal threshold after consuming just a single pint of higher-strength lager (typically above 4.5% ABV), though personal tolerance varies. The change is designed to reinforce the critical message that no level of alcohol is safe when driving.
Insurance Chief Highlights "Gap in Understanding"
Matt Pernet, the head of motor insurance at Direct Line, expressed serious concern over the findings. Speaking to The Times, he stated: "Worryingly, though, some in the newest cohort of drivers — those in Gen Z — seem to have a gap in their understanding, especially regarding how alcohol affects the body."
This perceived knowledge gap is reflected in sobering collision statistics from the Department for Transport. Data shows that drivers under the age of 30 are involved in more than a third of all drink-driving collisions, underscoring the real-world consequences of attitudes and behaviour.
As the government moves to tighten the law, the research highlights a pressing need for targeted education to shift attitudes among the UK's newest drivers, ensuring the upcoming regulatory changes translate into safer roads for all.
