A new survey has exposed a concerning generational divide in attitudes towards drink-driving, with young drivers significantly more likely to view it as socially acceptable.
Worrying Gap in Understanding
The poll, commissioned by Direct Line Motor Insurance and released on Friday 27th December, questioned 2,000 UK adults. It found that 38% of Generation Z drivers (those aged 18-27) agree that driving while "marginally" over the legal limit has become more socially acceptable. This contrasts sharply with the 48% of all adults who believe it is not acceptable to drive after drinking any alcohol at all.
Matt Pernet, Head of Direct Line Motor Insurance, stated that this age group has "not got the message" about the dangers. He highlighted that Government data from 2023 shows 35% of drink-driving collisions involved a driver under 30, making this attitude gap particularly alarming.
Over-Reliance on Personal Judgment
The research further identified a risky trend among young motorists towards self-assessment. A third of Gen Z drivers (32%) agreed that the decision of whether they are safe to drive after drinking should be theirs to make, trusting their own judgment.
"Personal judgment is an unreliable source when it comes to knowing if you are safe to drive, especially as many adults cannot correctly identify the legal limits," warned Pernet. "Therefore, seeing in the results that a third of Gen Z think that they should be able to judge for themselves is extremely worrying."
Public Backing for Tougher Measures
This study follows an RAC poll released on Tuesday which found overwhelming public support for stricter action, with 82% of UK drivers believing tougher measures are needed to tackle drink-driving.
Reports suggest these findings could influence upcoming government policy. It is understood that Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander is considering cutting the drink-drive limit in England and Wales as part of a new road safety strategy. The limit may be reduced from 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath to 22 micrograms.
The Direct Line survey of 2,000 drivers was conducted in June 2025.
