The driver crashed his hired e-scooter last Wednesday after he had been drinking. He blew 75microgrammes at the roadside in a breath alcohol test, but the legal limit is 35microgrammes.

       A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police told Bristol Post said: "A reminder that you can be arrested for drink driving while using an electric scooter.

       "This rider was involved in a road traffic collision on Wednesday evening in Bristol, blew 75 (legal limit 35) at the roadside and risks losing his licence for a year."

       The man was blasted online for "careless" behaviour.

       One person wrote: "Typical idiot."

       Another shared: "These scooters are bloody dangerous."

       A third posted: "That was careless. He shouldn't be drinking."

       Officers stressed motorists must remember laws apply to rental e-scooters.

       E-scooters are classified as personal light electric vehicles (PLEVs).

       Privately owned ones cannot be used on public roads but hired ones, which are becoming increasingly popular in most large UK cities, are legal on roads alongside cars, buses, taxis and other traffic.

       But they are also subject to the same legal requirements as any motor vehicle which carry the same penalties for breaches of the law.

       Rental e-scooters were made legal on British roads from July 4 last year.

       The two-wheeled scooters with small, electric motors have grown massively in popularity across many international cities.

       People can now hire e-scooters, often using smartphone apps, in a way similar to city centre bicycle hire schemes.

       Those looking to use a scooter during these trials must have the category Q entitlement on their driving licence.

       But many road users and pedestrians aren't happy.

       One wrote: "I'm sick of seeing them make up their own rules. Jumping red lights, mounting the pavement and riding at high speeds forcing pedestrians like me to take evasive action to avoid being hit over. Then they're just dumped all over the place when they're finished with! How they were legalised astounds me! GET RID!"

       A dad was fined ￡1,000 last month for using his son's e-scooter on public roads in Cardiff as he was unaware of the rules concerning the vehicles.