FOOTBALL fans were given their own penalty shoot out in Bolton town centre yesterday to show them the effect a drink can have on their judgement.
And, as they discovered, their chances of scoring were badly affected.
Town centre shoppers tried to score a few penalties while wearing a pair of "beer goggles" specially-made Drunk Buster spectacles used by police to simulate the effects of alcohol on a person's judgement.
The penalty shoot-out was set up in Victoria Square, Bolton, by police as part of a summer anti-drink-drive campaign.
Neil Greenhalgh, aged 18, of Little Lever, stepped up for the challenge and scored just two goals out of five attempts.
He said: "You think the ball's right in front of you but it's not. You really think you are going to be able to kick it."
Behind the fun was an important message that even one drink can impair your judgement behind the wheel.
And with the World Cup getting underway on Friday, police are confident a fair few pints will be drunk.
Neil said: "You can see two of everything behind those goggles, there's no way I'd have even made it to the car.
"I've never driven drunk and I'd never get in the car with someone who'd had a drink. I'm leaving my car at home and getting a taxi when I go out to watch the World Cup."
Chief Inspector Haydn Roberts, who kicked off the event, said: "We find in the summer that drink driving casualties rise.
"People are attending barbecues, street parties and World Cup parties but not making the link between those things and drink driving. One drink affects driving reactions and decision making which leads to collisions."
Road Safety Officer Don Isherwood was also present alongside football mascots, including Bolton Wanderers' Lofty the Lion and the mascots of Manchester City and Manchester United, to launch the campaign which is part of the government's THINK! road safety initiative featured on TV and radio adverts.
Mr Isherwood said: "People drinking and celebrating matches just need to be more aware. It's a big summer problem.
"People are drinking all day and it mounts up.
"Many people are pulled over the morning after, when they can still be well over the limit because it takes time for the alcohol to get through the system."
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