THEY may be using beer goggles, but the statistics are still ugly.
Drink and drug-driving are major concerns for Cheshire police.
There were 2,430 positive breath tests in the county between 2004-2005 and so far in 2005-06 there has been 1,472.
Now police are fighting back with a major campaign launched this week.
'Will you make it to the final?' is touring the North West using special beer goggles to show young drivers how drink and drugs affect judge-ment.
They take penalties against a goalie then try it wearing the goggles.
PC Robbie Burns, of the Specialist Investigations Unit, said: 'They disorientate you and mimic the effects of being drunk.'
'We took a toxicology report in 2004 and 30% of fatals were down to drink and drugs, and 13% were down to drugs.
'In the mid-1980s only 3% were due to drugs. It is strange that the figures are up.'
Drugs increase risk-taking, speed and confidence, and PC Burns is training 400 officers to recognise the signs.
He said: 'People think they can have a pint and a joint, but that magnifies the effects.
'If you are suspected in Chester then you will be fit-tested. We have done 50-60 so far this year.'
The event is being held across the North West and is aimed at 17-25-year-olds, males in particular.
The first was at South Cheshire College in Crewe.
Crewe policing unit's PC Nick Woodcock said: 'We urge people to take advantage of the buddy scheme where drivers get free soft drinks.
'The loss of any life in a collision can devastate families.
'We have got to do the same thing as we did to drink-driving and make drug-driving socially unacceptable.'
