That's the message from East Sussex County Council, which has joined up with Sussex Police, East and West Sussex Fire and Rescue Services, the Highways Agency and other local authorities to highlight how dangerous it is to get behind the wheel after drinking alcohol.

All these organisations belong to the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership, which is launching its Christmas anti-drink drive campaign on Saturday November 15.

The campaign will run throughout Sussex during November and December, with a series of road safety events featuring a specially prepared crashed car with a giant red bow around it.

In the last three years, drink driving has been the cause of one in five road fatalities in Sussex during the months of December and January.

Councillor Matthew Lock, lead member for transport and environment at East Sussex County Council, who will be attending the launch, said, "There's no excuse to drink and drive. Even a small drink affects a person's ability to drive safely so it's best to have nothing at all, or leave the car at home.

"If you don't, not only are you risking killing or seriously hurting yourself, your actions could leave a family without one of their relatives this festive season."