For young people, responsible drinking means never driving after drinking alcohol and never getting into a car with a driver who has been drinking. It is about knowing that even “a few drinks” can slow your reactions, choosing another way home, and using your power to say “no” when a situation on the road feels unsafe for you, your friends, and everyone around you.

Planning a safe way home starts before the night out, not at the end of it. You can agree with friends on a designated driver who stays alcohol‑free, pre‑book a taxi or ride‑hailing service, check late‑night public transport options, or arrange to stay at a friend’s place so that no one has to drive after drinking. Talking about the plan in your group chat ahead of time helps make “no drink driving” the normal expectation, not an awkward last‑minute decision.

Yes. Drink‑driving laws are set by each country, and many places have stricter limits or zero‑tolerance rules for young and new drivers. Because legal blood alcohol concentration limits and penalties can change between countries—and even between regions—the safest choice wherever you are is simple: if you are drinking, do not drive, and do not let your friends drive after drinking either.

BAC, or blood alcohol concentration, measures how much alcohol is in your bloodstream and is what police test in roadside breath or blood checks. Even at low BAC levels, alcohol slows your reaction time, affects your coordination, and makes it harder to judge speed and distance—skills that young drivers are still developing—so driving after drinking greatly increases your risk of a crash. That is why campaigns like Power of No encourage young people to keep BAC at zero when they are driving and to choose another way home once they start drinking.

If a friend wants to drive after drinking, you can use your power to keep them safe by calmly saying “no” and helping them find another way home. Offer to call a taxi or ride‑hailing service, share the cost between your group, organise a ride with someone who has not been drinking, or suggest they stay over instead of driving. Let them know you are speaking up because you care about their life, your friends’ lives, and the safety of other people on the road—not to spoil the night.

The Power of No campaign is a regional initiative that works with schools, universities, youth groups, and community partners to help young people say “no” to drink driving. By sharing real stories, social content, and simple actions—like planning a safe way home, speaking up when a friend wants to drive after drinking, and choosing not to ride with a drunk driver—the campaign aims to reduce alcohol‑related crashes, protect young lives, and build a future where drink driving is never seen as normal.