More people are drinking later and driving in the next day, says firm

The TTC Group runs education courses in mid and north Wales, and thinks many drivers do not know how long it takes for the body to get rid of alcohol.

The firm said up to a fifth of people on its courses had been arrested the morning after they had been drinking.

Director Jenny Wynn said the increase in licensing opening hours was "most probably" part of the issue.

She said: "Because pubs are opening later, people are drinking into the early hours.

"While getting a taxi home at night, they are still over the limit when driving to work the next morning."

The Home Office is still assessing the full impact of the changes in licensing laws in November last year, which allowed for extended drinking hours.

In the run-up to Christmas, South Wales Police said they caught nearly 100 drink drivers during the first 10 days of their festive anti-drink drive campaign.

The force warned revellers not to drive for 24 hours after a heavy night's drinking.

But Ms Wynn thinks many people are still ignoring the warning not to drink and drive.

She said: "Drink-driving is not going away. People are still getting behind the wheel of a car after drinking alcohol."

Driving ban

A spokeswoman for the company added: "We reckon that more people will be drinking for longer and later at night, which will then cause problems in the morning."

The TTC Group's own figures showed 1,086 people were convicted of drink-driving in north and mid Wales last year, 11 cases more than in 2004.

Of these, 470 volunteered to attend an 18-hour TTC rehabilitation course, with lectures on how alcohol affects the body, driving ability and health, in return for having up to a quarter off their driving ban.

Drivers are referred by the courts and courses are run at centres including Bangor, Brecon, Dolgellau, Llandrindod Wells, Porthmadog and Wrexham.