For anyone convicted of drinking and driving the penalties imposed could be severe. Depending upon the concentration of alcohol found to be in the driver’s breath, blood or urine, they could be sent to prison for up to 6 months or ordered to undertake a community penalty such as community service or ordered to pay a fine (with no maximum set). Coupled with the above penalties will be a mandatory driving ban of at least 12 months. The length of the ban could, of course, be much longer than the minimum 1 year (such short bans are usually reserved for those found to be only just above the drink drive limit) and could be as long as several years. The convicted driver might also have to pay costs as well as, what is termed, a ‘victim surcharge’.