As Christmas approaches, Northern Ireland car insurance customers have been warned that getting behind the wheel after a "festive tipple" just isn't worth it – not only could they be responsible for a serious accident, but they could be left uninsurable.

Car insurance experts at Money Supermarket point out that, although some providers will offer cover to convicted drink drivers, premiums will go up from an annual average of £300 to £578.

However, car insurance providers dealing with enquiries from customers in Northern Ireland and beyond will often not even return a quote if they are dealing with convicted motorists. Other car insurance firms refuse to insure drivers who have been banned in the last five years.

Steve Sweeney, the comparison site's head of motor insurance, says anyone planning on driving over Christmas should "stick to the soft drinks".

"A conviction could lead to a £1,000 fine, a 12-month driving ban on their licence, and even a possible prison sentence," he notes. "It is simply not worth taking the risk – the results of doing so can be costly and very damaging."

Home Office figures suggest one in eight motorists has driven after drinking over the limit.