DRINK, drugs and driving simply don’t mix, Hampshire police are warning motorists as the festive party season kicks into gear.

The force today launches its annual campaign designed at cutting deaths on the roads over Christmas.

Motorists are being urged to “think before having that drink” and “not to be a mug and drive after taking drugs”, as police promise to come down heavily on anyone caught behind the wheel while under the influence.

And they want residents to shop anyone they think might be about to break the law by driving while drunk or on drugs, with a special text service set up to make it easier to report concerns.

Last year, 221 people were arrested on Hampshire’s roads during December for being over the drink-drive limit, or for refusing or failing to provide a sample.

Another seven were arrested after failing Field Impairment Tests (FIT) designed to find those who have taken drugs before getting behind the wheel.

The figures represented a significant drop from the same month in 2008, when ||307 drivers were arrested during the Christmas campaign.

To report someone you suspect is about to drive illegally, send a text to 80999.