Big rise in North women drink-drive cases

Aug 31 2008 by Sara Nichol, Sunday Sun

THE ladette culture is being blamed for a massive rise in drink-drive convictions among North women.

Shock figures obtained by the Sunday Sun reveal that the number of females stopped over the legal drink- drive limit has more than doubled in some areas over the past decade.

Police in North Yorkshire recorded a 177 per cent increase in offences from 1999 to 2007 . . . nearly four times more than the national average rise of 46pc.

High levels of binge drinking and bigger glasses of wine are thought to have fuelled the shocking rise, which has prompted some police forces and motoring groups to urge the Government to launch a drink-drive campaign targeted specifically at women.

Over the same period, the number of male drink-driving convictions in the region has actually fallen . . . in some areas, such as Durham, by as much as 27pc.

Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act also revealed that Cleveland Police reported 91 female drink-driving convictions in 1998, but this dramatically increased by 67pc to 160 in 2006. Durham Police also recorded a rise.

Although men still make up the vast majority of drink-drive offenders, it is thought that their female counterparts are mirroring their drinking habits . . . both on and off the road.

Road safety charity Brake said something needs to be done to hammer the message home to women about the dangers of drinking and getting behind the wheel.

A spokesperson said: “The increase in convictions for female drink-driving in the North is incredibly worrying.

“Across the board, there is more binge drinking among women. Wine glasses are larger and drinks are stronger and these are major contributing factors.”

The ladette culture also means the number of women suffering from alcohol-related illnesses has soared.

The spokesperson added: “The number of young females admitted to hospital for liver-related diseases is increasing.

“We are calling on the Government to implement a ‘not a drop’ policy for the drink-drive limit because no one can ever know exactly how many units they are drinking, and different amount affect people differently.”

And they added: “We need to be hammering the message home that drink-driving is not acceptable.”

The shock figures follow a study last year by the Association of Public Health Observatories, which concluded that the North East has the biggest alcohol problem in the UK.

National agency on alcohol misuse, Alcohol Concern, say the rise in female drink-drive convictions highlights the need for the Government to lower the legal limit.

It wants it reduced to 50mg, which would bring the UK in line with many other European countries.