Alcohol policies dominate election campaign
According to The Sunday Times, the Brown government believes the tougher law on alcohol would prevent up to 65 deaths a year and a further 230 serious injuries in car accidents linked to drink-driving.
At present the 80 mg limit allows a man of average build to drink 1½-2 pints of normal-strength beer or three small glasses of wine and remain within the law.
With a 50 mg limit, the average man would be limited to just under a pint of beer or a large glass of wine and women to half a pint of beer or a small glass of wine, the paper claims.
Obviously, the change in the drink-driving limit could force many more country pubs to close. The British Beer & Pub Association reported in February this year that pub closures are now running at 39 a week, compared with 52 pubs a week closing in first half 2009. A total of 2,365 pubs closed in 2009, representing 24,000 jobs lost in sector in 2009.
Even though the government may press ahead with its plans to reduce the legal drink-driving limit, it will at the same time water down the penalties for breaching the drink-drive rules. Today, anyone caught driving while over the limit faces a minimum ban of 12 months.
Most countries with lower legal limits fine drivers and give them penalty points for minor breaches. Labour is considering recommending shorter bans for breaches of between 50 mg and 79 mg.
The drink-drive changes — which would not require new legislation — would bring Britain into line with other European countries, which have a limit of either 50 mg or 20 mg.
