Fuelling the problem? The sale of alcohol at petrol stations in Wales

Note: This report was funded and/or written by our predecessor organisation Alcohol Concern.

Drink-drive accidents can affect all types of road users, including drivers, passengers and pedestrians. A combination of law enforcement and sustained publicity campaigns has substantially reduced the number of these accidents over the last twenty years. Despite this, as many as one in six deaths on roads in the UK are caused by drivers over the legal alcohol limit. In 2008, there were 5,183 positive or refused breath tests in Wales.

Driving whilst under the influence of alcohol can impair an individual’s judgement and therefore their ability to drive safely. Some countries have banned sales of alcohol from garages/petrol stations, largely as a consequence of the correlation between alcohol consumption and motor vehicle accidents. In England and Wales, however, it remains legal for petrol stations to sell alcoholic drinks, provided they have been granted the appropriate licence.

This briefing paper examines the issue of alcohol sales at petrol stations and makes proposals for future action. It is intended to stimulate and inform a greater public debate on this important issue.