Millions of motorists could unknowingly be breaking serious road laws as new data shows that Britons are confused by alcohol packaging.
Fresh data has found that drivers are routinely thinking that popular drinks are non-alcoholic, when they actually contain up to 15 per cent alcohol.
A staggering 80 per cent of British drivers surveyed believed that Vizzy was non-alcoholic, despite having a five per cent alcohol content rating.
Vizzy has colourful and fruit-focused packaging, as well as flavours that could entice younger people, including "orange cream pop" and "pineapple mango".
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Motorists could find themselves over the drink-drive limit without realising
|GETTY
One in five said they thought the product was a soft drink like cola or lemonade, while the same proportion believed it to be flavoured water.
Two-thirds of people also incorrectly identified Four Loko (eight to 14 per cent ABV) and Truly (five per cent ABV).
Four Loko in particular attracted widespread media attention in the United States in 2010 after some states banned it, since the previous formula contained caffeine in addition to alcohol.
One of the most popular new drinks in the UK, BuzzBallz, contains up to 15 per cent alcohol rating, while also being dubbed the "drink of 2025".
Drivers are getting confused with alcoholic drink packaging
|WHEELSAWAY
More than half (53 per cent) of drivers didn't identify the drink as alcoholic, with 16 per cent indicating that "buzz" would infer that it is an energy drink.
A spokesperson for Wheelsaway said: "It's important to stay hydrated while driving, especially while on a long drive, as it can aid concentration and stop you from feeling drowsy.
"However, with so many drink choices available in 2025 making it easy to grab something and go, we urge drivers to spend an extra second and read the packaging.
"What might look like a refreshing juice, energy drink or chilled iced tea could in fact contain alcohol and, in turn, put yourself and other drivers at risk."
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Drivers were also found to be fooled in the opposite circumstances, with 26 per cent mistakenly believing that Liquid Death contained alcohol.
Liquid Death, which has exploded in popularity in the UK and across the United States in recent years, is actually a range of sparkling water or iced tea drinks.
Similarly, two in five motorists mistook the bold packaging of mineral water Drip to be an energy drink.
It comes as fresh research from road safety charity IAM RoadSmart found that 100 motorists receive drink-drive endorsements every day, with 108,000 endorsements added to individual licences over a three-year period.
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Motorists who are caught drink-driving could get six months in prison, an unlimited fine and a ban from driving for at least one year. If convicted twice in 10 years, they will receive three years.
Causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink can lead to life imprisonment, an unlimited fine, a minimum five-year driving ban and an extended driving test before their licence is returned.
Nicholas Lyes, director of policy and standards at IAM RoadSmart, highlighted how the cost of drink-driving has risen up to £80,000 when taking into account lost salary, legal fees, fines, public transport costs and increased insurance premiums.
He added: "Drink-driving is a dangerously reckless act that puts other people’s lives at risk. The fact that there were 1,860 killed or seriously injured in a drink-drive related collision in 2023 - the equivalent of five people a day - should be a sufficient deterrent. But for some, the consequences might only dawn on them when they realise the wider cost."