While plenty of drivers are heeding the advice in the latest drink-driving campaign and not risking driving after a night out, they are being caught over the limit the next day.

What all drivers who enjoy a social drink need to have is a Plan C, a good understanding of how long it takes for alcohol to leave their system, and an alternative to driving the next morning after a big night out.

As our lead story today points out, there are many myths surrounding drinking and how to reduce your blood alcohol concentration, but the only proven method is time.

The exact amount of time needed for alcohol to leave the body will vary from person to person but as a minimum drivers should allow at least one hour for each standard drink, according to the Federal Police.

That sounds fairly straight forward but once again not everyone enjoying a stubbie of beer, a schooner in their favourite pub or a glass of wine knows whether they are counting standard drinks or drinks which contain considerably more alcohol.

Over the course of a long evening a drinker might consume half a dozen drinks and some might consume considerably more before opting for Plan B, a ride with a friend or a taxi.

For the majority of drink-drivers who find themselves in a traffic offenders’ program their undoing comes the morning after the big night. 

Six or seven hours’ sleep before getting behind the wheel has not been enough. Despite their best intentions they have been caught drink-driving the next morning.

This explains why we often see police stationed on arterial roads on a Saturday morning and why the next stage in the war against drink-driving needs to highlight Plan C - the clock.