Don't let your football end in penalties, warns GEM as England and Scotland prepare for the FIFA World Cup

· England and Scotland both have late-night BST kick-offs throughout the group stage - making safe journey planning after the final whistle essential

· A conviction for drink-driving carries a mandatory ban of at least 12 months, an unlimited fine, and up to six months in prison

· Scotland already operates a lower limit of 50mg per 100ml of blood - stricter than the 80mg limit in England and Wales.

Road safety and breakdown organisation GEM Motoring Assist is urging football fans across the UK to plan their journeys home before a ball is kicked during this summer's FIFA World Cup 2026.

Both England and Scotland are in the tournament, with fixtures running late into the night; England's group games all kick off at 9pm BST or later, while Scotland face Haiti at 2am BST on Sunday 14 June before two 11pm BST kick-offs against Morocco and Brazil.

Many matches will finish well after midnight, and figures show the risk of impaired driving is at its greatest between 10pm and 4am*.

The latest government figures show drink-drive deaths have risen to their highest level since 2009†, with alcohol estimated to be a factor in around one in five fatal road collisions. In the most recent policing crackdown, officers conducted nearly 60,000 roadside tests across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with breath tests following a collision showing nearly 15% of motorists testing positive for alcohol - the highest rate since 2019.

Pedestrians are also at risk. Alcohol impairs your judgement and reduces your ability to gauge speed and distance. This increases the likelihood of walking home after a late match and stumbling into the road, putting you and others in danger.

GEM's head of road safety James Luckhurst said: "The excitement of the World Cup is something we all want to share, and we will be cheering both England and Scotland on. But with kick-off times pushing well past 9pm - and Scotland's opening game against Haiti not even starting until 2am - the temptation to get behind the wheel after a few celebratory drinks is very real.

"Our message is simple: plan how you're getting home before you head out. Pre-book your taxi, agree a designated driver who sticks to soft drinks, or arrange to stay over. The only scoreline that matters on the way home is zero units of alcohol.

"Don't forget the morning after, either. A late night watching the football with a few drinks could easily mean you're still over the limit when you get in the car for work the next morning, so if in doubt, leave the car at home."

Avoid the Penalties

Anyone convicted of drink-driving faces a mandatory driving ban of at least 12 months, an unlimited fine and up to six months in prison. A conviction also means a sharp rise in car insurance premiums, potential difficulties travelling abroad, and a conviction visible to employers on the driving licence.

The Government has announced plans to review the drink-drive limit in England, meaning even one drink could soon put some drivers over the limit. Scotland already operates a lower limit of 50mg per 100ml of blood - stricter than the 80mg limit in England and Wales.

GEM's World Cup safety tips

· Pre-book your taxi home before you leave the house. Name a designated driver for every match who commits to staying on soft drinks all evening.

· Don't drive the morning after. Alcohol takes longer to clear your system than many people think, so if you had a late night with several drinks, you could still be over the limit next morning.

· Look out for mates walking home. Never let someone walk home alone after drinking, as alcohol dramatically impairs road sense and the ability to judge the speed of approaching traffic. If you're walking, make yourself visible - wear light or reflective clothing and use well-lit routes home.

· Know the consequences. A drink-drive conviction can cost you your job, your licence and in the worst cases, someone's life.

England Fixtures

Croatia, Wednesday 17 June 9:00pm Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas

Ghana, Tuesday 23 June 9:00pm Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts

Panama, Saturday 27 June 10:00pm MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

Scotland Fixtures

Haiti, Sunday 14 June 2:00am Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts

Morocco, Friday 19 June 11:00pm Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts

Brazil, Wednesday 24 June 11:00pm Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens

* TRL identifies the time from 10pm to 4am as the peak period for drink-driving on UK roads.

† www.gov.uk for the year 2022

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