Young Australians Admit to Next-Day Drink Driving, Study Reveals

A recent study has revealed that over half of young adults in Australia admit to driving under the influence the morning after a night out. Conducted by the University of the Sunshine Coast, the research involved nearly 300 participants from Queensland and highlights concerning trends in drink-driving behavior among those aged 18 to 25.

The study identified five key factors that increase the likelihood of next-day drink-driving. These include harmful drinking habits, being male, residing in metropolitan areas, personal approval of the behavior, and the belief that peers also engage in such practices. According to the findings, the notion that “friends do it too” significantly contributes to this dangerous behavior.

Dr. Michelle Nicolls, a research associate at the University, expressed her alarm over the study’s findings. She emphasized the serious implications of driving under the influence, noting that it accounts for 22% of all fatal crashes in Queensland. Dr. Nicolls, who co-authored the paper titled “Young drivers’ next day drink driving: The role of social norms” with Associate Professor Lisa Buckley, stated that young drivers may underestimate the risks associated with next-day drink-driving.

“Driving with a blood-alcohol concentration above zero is illegal for L and P platers,” Dr. Nicolls pointed out. This raises concerns, as the rate at which alcohol leaves the body can vary significantly based on factors such as sex, weight, and the quantity and type of alcohol consumed. Consequently, it is possible for alcohol to remain in a person’s system into the following morning, despite what they might perceive as a night of “sleeping it off.”

In the study, more than 60% of young drivers surveyed admitted to potentially driving above the legal blood-alcohol limit the day after drinking. Additionally, a quarter of participants acknowledged that they might have driven shortly after consuming alcohol.

While there has been extensive research and public discourse on drink-driving, the issue of next-day drink-driving remains underexplored. Dr. Nicolls advocates for further research into young drivers’ understanding of this behavior to develop effective countermeasures aimed at reducing its prevalence.

The study has been published in the journal Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, which underscores the importance of addressing this public safety issue. As young adults continue to navigate social norms and perceptions surrounding alcohol consumption, the findings serve as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of driving under the influence, even when the drinking has occurred the night before.

For more information, refer to the publication by Michelle Nicolls et al. in Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, published in 2026 (DOI: 10.1016/j.trf.2025.103404).