With the Christmas party season in full swing, most people will not take the risk of drink driving after a night out. However, a new campaign is reminding drivers that they may still be over the limit the following morning.

The ‘Morning After' campaign has been launched by the Road Safety Authority and drinkaware.ie and follows the recent introduction of lower drink-driving limits.

It takes the body about one hour to get rid of one standard drink, which is equal to a glass of beer or cider, a small glass of wine or a pub measure of spirits. This means that a pint of beer contains two standard drinks, while a home measure of wine or spirits may contain up to three standard drinks.

According to drinkaware.ie chief executive, Fionnuala Sheehan, ‘no amount of coffee, energy drinks, cold showers or breakfast rolls will speed up the elimination of alcohol from our systems'.

"You might feel better afterwards, but that doesn't mean you're fit to drive. The message is to take responsibility for your drinking, do the maths the morning after and if you think you still have alcohol in your system, don't risk driving. Equally, the message to passengers is not to get in a car with anyone who you think is not safe to drive," she commented.

Meanwhile, also commenting on the campaign, RSA chief executive, Noel Brett, complimented all of the publicans across the country who have worked to reduce drink-driving through, for example, the development of designated driver schemes, key holding services and the provision of transport for customers.

"Well done to the public who utilise these services and to those who act as designated drivers. It is a measure of changed behaviour and social consciousness to see cars left at pubs overnight. In the past many of these cars would have been driven home after a night's drinking," Mr Brett said.

If you would like to know how many standard drinks are in your usual drink, click here.

Meanwhile, the public is being reminded that there will be extra public transport available over the Christmas period. Furthermore, designated drivers can enjoy up to three free soft drinks at participating venues, thanks to the Designated Driver Campaign. For more information on that, click here