A 15-year-old boy too young to hold a driving licence was one of 478 people found to be driving over the limit during the Police Service of Northern Ireland's Christmas anti-drink driving campaign, police have reported.
The number of people charged with drink-driving offences was up by 82 on last year.
The oldest person apprehended during the campaign which ran between November 25th and New Year's Day was 76.
More than 3,000 drivers were tested this Christmas, which represented a rise of almost 1,000 on last Christmas. Five drivers were four times over the limit, 43 were three times over the limit, and 178 were twice over the limit.
Over 20 people were arrested the morning after they drank alcohol, according to the PSNI, who estimated that 37 people died on Northern Ireland's roads last year in accidents caused by alcohol.
Supt Ian Hamill, who heads the PSNI's road policing development branch, said there would be no relaxation in the campaign against drink-drivers.
"There are 478 people who are now looking into 2004 with the inevitable prospect of losing their licences and in some cases their livelihoods. We said at the outset of the campaign that there would be no hiding place for those who drink and drive.
"The figures from across the province show that we lived up to that determination," he added.
"The vast majority of right thinking people realise that drink-driving is shameful and unacceptable.
"However, there seems to be an irresponsible minority who ignore all advice and warnings.
"That is why the detection of drink-driving is a priority for the police - indeed an all year round priority," said Supt Hamill.
