The number of people caught drink-driving fell by nearly a third following the introduction of the new lower legal alcohol limit.
Compared with the average in the weeks leading up to the law change, the number of motorists giving positive breath tests dropped by 30%.
From midnight on December 5, the Scottish limit was reduced from 80mg to 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood – effectively making it risky to have even one drink before getting behind the wheel.
In the first week after its introduction, 71 people were caught driving with excess alcohol, with eight falling between the new and the old limits.
Seven motorists caught between 6am and 10am – the so-called “morning after” period.
Chief Constable Sir Stephen House said he assumed the drivers were suffering from alcohol consumed the night before.
Sir Stephen said he believed that publicity about the new limit had raised understanding of the dangers of drink-driving.
“A lot of papers are reporting that do-it-yourself breath-test kits – which we do not endorse – have sold out,” he said.
“That in itself must be a good thing because it shows a rise in awareness, but our view remains that any drinking, no matter how little, affects your driving, so the safest thing is to not drink at all.
“I am really heartened by public support for lowering the drink-drive limit.”
Public Health Minister Maureen Watt urged drivers to leave their cars at home when having a drink over the festive season.
“Scotland’s new drink-drive laws will make our roads safer and save lives, but drivers need to take care this Christmas that they are aware that one drink could be too much for the new limit,” said Ms Watt, MSP for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine.
“It is also vital that drivers know that they can still be over the limit the morning after an evening’s drinking.
“It can take roughly 10 hours to be alcohol-free after drinking one bottle of wine and about 13 hours to be alcohol-free after drinking four pints of strong lager or ale.”