Three police forces are issuing a warning to football fans ahead of tonight’s opening game of the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire forces are asking fans to “think carefully about what alcohol they drink during the tournament, which runs until July 13.

It is estimated that for each unit of alcohol consumed it takes at least an hour to enter the body and a further hour to leave it. If you were to drink four pints of lager for example, you should not drive for at least 13 hours from finishing your last pint.

Chief Inspector Richard Hann, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Roads Policing Unit, said: “It is important that anyone thinking of getting behind the wheel either following a match or the morning after a heavy day or night of drinking thinks carefully. This time of year always carries a greater risk of drink driving and we need to target our enforcement on this for the driver’s safety and also for the safety of others.

“We encourage people showing support for their teams in the World Cup but we also want people to have a good time responsibly. Please do not take the risk of driving if you plan to drink as you will more than likely be caught and the potential consequences on both yourself and others will be severe and won’t be worth the risk.”

Penalties for drink driving will mean a minimum of a 12-month disqualification, a fine of up to £5,000 and possibly six months in prison.

Causing death by careless driving while under the influence of alcohol can result in a prison term of up to 14 years.

A drink drive conviction will also mean you will have a criminal record, penalty points on your driving licence for 10 years, insurance costs will increase dramatically, hiring a car will become all but impossible and entry to some foreign countries denied.

Anyone who suspects someone of drink driving is asked to contact police on non-emergency number 101.