The end of year celebrations are often an excuse for many excesses. They can endanger our health and that of others.
Always present during end-of-year celebrations, the bottle of champagne is rarely left behind during celebrations. For good reason, according to a survey carried out for the League against Cancer in 2023, four out of ten French people consider the consumption of alcohol “essential” during the end-of-year celebrations. In 2024, however, these figures are still just as worrying since one in three French drivers plans to consume alcohol during these festive moments, even if they get behind the wheel afterwards, according to a study by Poll&Roll for the neoinsurer Leocare.
The study, carried out between December 13 and 18 on a sample of 1,000 people representative of the French population aged 18 to 65, demonstrates a real awareness problem. Indeed, each year in France, nearly 30% of fatal accidents are due to excessive alcohol consumption, indicates the Road safety. Knowing that a large majority of journeys made during the holidays are made by car, it seems all the more worrying that such a large number of French people say they are ready to hit the road in a state of intoxication.
For good reason, the study also reports that 42% of French people admit to having already taken the wheel after consuming alcohol or illicit substances. And although it is advisable to prevent a loved one from getting behind the wheel after drinking too much, the French are too lax on this point: 27% of French people admit to having already let someone drive despite their state of intoxication.
As a reminder, it is prohibited to drive with a blood alcohol level greater than or equal to 0.5 g/l of blood. This is why it is recommended to use a breathalyzer before starting a journey, particularly around the holidays. Beforehand, Road Safety recommends organizing your evening return by appointing a Sam. “Designating a driver who does not drink remains one of the best solutions to ensure that you return safely,” underlines the delegation. Moreover, if one of your friends absolutely wants to get behind the wheel despite their state of intoxication, she advises taking away their keys to avoid any unpleasant surprises.