A driver told officers he “just had a sip” as he was caught drinking a pint of lager while behind the wheel of his car. Essex Police were on patrol on 22 December 2024 when they saw a car partially blocking the road in Brentwood. With the car’s engine still running, the man was seen sipping beer from a Stella Artois pint glass. He proceeded to fail a roadside breath test. Andre Ali-Baba, 25, of Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, was arrested and charged with drink driving. Appearing at Stevenage Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 20 February, he was banned from driving for 14 months and ordered to pay £256 in fines and court costs.