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SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE EVALUATION OF THE 2003/2004 FESTIVE DRINK DRIVE CAMPAIGN

CHAPTER FOUR: ATTITUDES TO DRINKING & DRIVING

4.1 A key aim of the drink drive 2003/2004 festive campaign was to influence future driving behaviour. It is important to understand the attitudes to drinking and driving which are potentially influential on behaviour. In the quantitative research, individuals had to indicate on a four point scale whether they 'strongly agreed', 'agreed', 'disagreed' or 'strongly disagreed' with a series of attitude statements. These statements aimed to identify situations or reasons when it is perceived to be acceptable to drink and drive.

4.2 As can be seen in Table 4.1, overall findings indicated what could be described as responsible attitudes to drinking and driving. The majority (89%) agreed it would be better not to have anything to drink at all if you are going to drive. Similarly 91% disagreed that it was acceptable to drink and drive if only going a short distance. Nevertheless, for some, drinking and driving is acceptable with certain caveats applied. One in five (22%) agreed that 'Driving after drinking is acceptable as long as it is within the legal limit'. A similar proportion (21%) agreed 'Drinking and driving depends on the individual, some people shouldn't drink at all if they are driving, other people are more able to drink without it affecting them'. A slightly higher proportion (30%) agreed that they would be able to drive, competently after a small amount of alcohol (within the legal limit).

Table 4.1

4.3 Men were more likely to agree that it was acceptable to drink as long as it is within the legal limits and that it depended on the individual. They were also more likely to agree that they would be able to competently drive after a small amount of alcohol. These figures were higher for 17-29 year old males compared with the total sample:

• 27% of 17 - 29 year old males compared to 22% of the total sample thought it was acceptable to drink alcohol when you are driving as long as within the legal limit
• 39% of 17 - 29 year old males compared to 30% of the total sample agreed they would be able to drive competently after a small amount of alcohol within the legal limit

4.4 There was a fairly strong belief expressed during the qualitative research that attitudes to drinking and driving have shifted, and that the concept of drinking and driving was not deemed to be as acceptable as it once was. Opinion suggested that drinking and driving would have been deemed more acceptable for previous generations (those who would now be aged fifty or more). This view did not differ by age, gender or socio economic group. Indeed a few participants claimed that when they were younger that they had been in a car with a parent (this in the main was the Father) who had been drinking.

4.5 Nevertheless, although initial discussion during the qualitative research found respondents overtly opposed to drinking and driving, further investigation showed that whilst drinking and driving per se was not deemed to be acceptable, the fact that there is a legal limit means that many individuals will have something to drink if driving. The exception to this was those individuals who had been directly or indirectly adversely affected by a drink driving incident.

4.6 Some individuals rationalise and / or justify particular situations when they consider it more acceptable to drink and drive as long as within the legal limit. Those mentioned included:

• Short distance
• 'They know the road well'
• Rural location (no alternative transport available this view was more dominant amongst younger respondents)
• Emergency situation relating to a child.

4.7 Respondents, particularly younger people, also indicated that at the end of a social evening there is a strong desire to get home and potentially this can be the trigger to risking taking the car. For some, again mainly younger respondents, it was also perceived to be less fun if you are the only one not drinking and on this basis they will have 'one or two'. However there was no apparent widespread understanding and / or acceptability of what constitutes the legal limit. Although individuals referred to the legal limit as being in the region of two units, there was extensive discussion on the difficultly of determining the number of units actually consumed. A number of contributing factors were highlighted:

• Depends on the type of drink being consumed, i.e. spirit versus beer, wine etc
• Difficulty basing it on the number of drinks consumed as pubs do not all have standard glass sizes
• Difficult to establish when socialising at peoples' homes as glasses are continuously 'topped up'.

4.8 Furthermore, the findings suggested that individuals justify to themselves and others that it is acceptable for 'certain individuals' to have more than for example, two drinks and be 'okay'. Generally individuals claimed that it depended on:

• A subjective assessment of how good a driver someone is
• Driving experience
• Gender; for some, women were perceived to be able to drink less than men
• Weight & height; taller, heavier people were perceived to be able to drink more without being affected

4.9 There was also commentary on the impact of alcohol being minimised if you:

• Consume alcohol during the course of a meal
• Intersperse alcohol with non alcoholic drinks

4.10 The qualitative evidence suggested that individuals may well in some instances be driving when they are over the limit. Respondents tended to describe themselves or others as being 'okay' to drive as opposed to discussing it in reference to the amount of alcohol consumed. Signs they are looking for which would depict not being 'okay' were slurred speech or being unsteady on their feet. Consideration did not appear to be given to the influence of alcohol per se on the basic skills required to be able to drive competently, for example:

• Co-ordination skills
• Reflex & reactions
• Judgement on a range of factors such as driving conditions, speed, etc

4.11 This attitude of 'its okay to drive after a couple' was also applied to the driver of a car where someone is a passenger and they used the same rationale as for themselves i.e.:

• If someone appears 'okay' to drive
• If they only had had a couple of drinks
• Individual is a good driver and will be in control
• Need to get home (again particularly younger men, often influenced by their own alcohol consumption)

4.12 Qualitative research also revealed a perception that drinking and driving would be more dominant amongst young men (i.e. 17-21 year olds and also older men aged 40+). There was also some expectation that it would occur more amongst particular professions, including doctors, the police and those employed in the building trade. In contrast, women were considered less likely to drink and drive. This was due to women being attributed with being more likely to 'worry' and also to have more of a pre-disposition towards 'behaving sensibly'.

4.13 It is also worth noting that drinking and driving was considered acceptable amongst some men. Reference was made to 'aspiring to beat the breathalyser'.

4.14 The qualitative findings appeared to support particular attitudes demonstrated in the quantitative phase (albeit these attitudes were not held by a majority) namely;

• It is acceptable to drink alcohol when driving as long as within the legal limit
• Drinking alcohol depends on the individual; some people shouldn't drink at all if they are driving. Other people are more able to drink without it affecting them
• I would still be able to drive competently after a small amount of alcohol within the legal limit

4.15 Overall then the findings suggest that attitudinally some people perceive drinking alcohol and driving is acceptable if certain caveats are applied.

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