drink-driving

Noun

drink-driving (uncountable)

1. (Commonwealth, Ireland, UK) Operation of a motor vehicle after recently consuming an alcoholic beverage.
   • A man has been arrested in Huoshan county near Luan for drink-driving after he rang up the police by mistake and then challenged an officer to a fight,[…]2014 October 9, Wu Nan, “Drink-driving bungle; Fake goods up in flames; Ex-official denies gambling”, in South China Morning Post, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 12 Oct 2014, China...
   • Another outcome of rising motor car use was the increased danger around Christmas through drink-driving, which became a matter of particular concern among policy makers.2023 December 27, David Turner, “Silent lines...”, in RAIL, number 999, page 29
2. (Commonwealth, Ireland, UK) A criminal offence committed by a person who operates a vehicle when the measured amount of alcohol in his or her blood exceeds the legal limit.
   • A reformed alcoholic with an “appalling” history of drink-driving between three and five times the legal limit was jailed yesterday.2008 June 26, Rae Wilson, “Ex-alcoholic jailed for repeat drink-driving”, in Sunshine Coast Daily, Australia