Drink-Driving and its Associations with Sociodemographic Characteristics and Alcohol Consumption in Germany

Abstract: Aims: To assess the prevalence of drink-driving among adults in Germany and subgroups, and potential associations with sociodemographic or drinking characteristics. Methodology: Cross-sectional population survey of 5,153 respondents aged 18+ years in Germany (June–November 2021). We assessed self-reported drink-driving, defined as, in the past month, driving a motorised vehicle within 1 hour of consuming 2 or more alcoholic beverages. Regression models were used to examine sociodemographic and drinking characteristics associations with self-reported drink-driving among adults in Germany who drank alcohol and reported driving a motorised vehicle in the past month. Results: The prevalence of self-reported drink-driving was 4.1 % (95 % CI 3.6–4.7) among adults in Germany, and 5.7 % (95 % CI 5.0–6.5) among adults who were alcohol users and reported driving a motorised vehicle in the past month. Lower odds of drink-driving were found for women vs men (adjusted odds ratio (OR adj ) = 0.63, 95 % CI 0.45–0.88), people with low vs middle income (OR adj = 0.82, 95 % CI 0.72–0.94), people living in rural vs urban areas (OR adj = 0.38, 95 % CI 0.27–0.54), and people consuming low vs medium alcohol levels (OR adj = 0.28, 95 % CI 0.18–0.44). There was no clear association with age or education level. Conclusions: Roughly 4 in 100 adults drank and drove in the past month in Germany. This is a public health issue requiring further study and potentially more targeted interventions.