Drivers confused on drinks measures

Pubs serving bumper measures of wine and spirits are leaving millions of motorists dangerously confused about how much they can legally drink and drive, it was claimed today.

Worst affected are women who often order large glasses of wine yet are most baffled by how many units of alcohol they can drink if they are driving.

According to new research, one in three motorists drinks more in the summer but more than 90 per cent do not know the legal drink driving limits.

The findings come in a survey of 2,157 drivers for insurance giant Churchill. It says pubs increasingly serve wine in large 250-millilitre glasses, rather than standard 175-millilitre measures. Promotional offers often mean spirits come in 35-millilitre measures rather than the traditional 25 millilitres.

Only one in five wine drinkers knew a standard glass of wine is 175 millilitres (two units of alcohol, according to the Portman Group drinks watchdog), and one in 10 spirits drinkers knew a standard measure is 25 millilitres (one unit).

The survey found that 93 per cent of female drivers, compared with 88 per cent of male drivers, did not know the legal limit for alcohol consumption. This is 80mg of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. Some people can reach the limit after two units whereas for others it can be double that amount.