West Midlands Police reportedly argued that alcohol-related driving risks can continue into the following day, particularly when matches finish late and licensed venues can sell drinks for longer.
The force also cited a notable morning danger window: the report says one in five motorists caught drink-driving is stopped between 6am and midday. That makes the morning-after operation part of a wider road-safety strategy rather than a response limited to the final whistle.
The report says the enforcement produced several outcomes beyond breath tests:
Those results do not establish that the operation prevented a collision, but they do challenge the idea that it was an entirely unproductive exercise. Roadside checks can uncover wider offences even when no drink-driving arrest follows.
Criticism reportedly centred on whether officers were targeting “easy” arrests instead of more serious priorities. The force’s response focused on the consequences its officers encounter after dangerous-driving crashes, including support for families affected by road deaths.
The next late England kickoff will test whether the same tension returns. For supporters, the practical message is straightforward: a night of celebration can still carry into the morning, and the final whistle does not end the responsibility to drive safely.