Ministers are encountering resistance from the pub industry regarding their proposal to reduce the legal alcohol limit for driving in order to enhance road safety.
As part of a significant road safety initiative, the potential plan in England and Wales involves lowering the drink-drive limit from 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath to 22 micrograms, aligning it with the limit in Scotland, which was reduced in 2014. Currently, England and Wales have the highest limit alongside Malta in Europe.
The reduction in the limit could result in just one pint causing some individuals to exceed the threshold, with various factors such as age, weight, and gender influencing the amount of alcohol a person can consume before reaching the limit.
Concerns have been raised by representatives of rural pubs about the potential negative impact on the sector due to the proposed change. However, government officials have defended the initiative, highlighting the numerous families who have suffered losses due to drink-driving incidents. They emphasized that Scotland’s lower drink-drive limit did not adversely affect the pub industry.
Transport minister Ms. Greenwood emphasized the importance of not drinking and driving, urging people to leave their cars at home if they choose to consume alcohol. She cited the high number of fatalities related to drink driving in the past year as unacceptable.
Ms. Greenwood also mentioned that studies from the University of Stirling and the University of Bath indicated that the reduction of the drink-drive limit in Scotland did not significantly impact the pub trade, which was taken into consideration in the development of the current proposals.
In 2024, a total of 1,633 individuals lost their lives and nearly 28,000 were seriously injured in traffic accidents in Britain. Despite a notable decrease between 2000 and 2010, the number of fatalities from drink-driving incidents has been on the rise over the past decade, reaching a 13-year peak in 2022. This trend has raised concerns about the effectiveness of existing road safety measures.
Various critics, including Reform leader Nigel Farage, have voiced their opposition to the plan, expressing concerns about its potential negative effects on country pubs. The British Beer and Pub Association emphasized its commitment to promoting responsible drinking and supporting drink-drive campaigns, while highlighting a decrease in alcohol-related driving accidents based on recent government data.
The road safety strategy, described as a significant reform in decades, also proposes measures such as requiring convicted drink-drivers to have “alcolocks” installed in their vehicles and granting authorities the power to suspend driving licenses for individuals suspected of drink or drug-driving offenses.
An alcohol interlock, commonly known as an ‘alcolock,’ is a breathalyser device that can be fitted in a vehicle to prevent the driver from operating it if they have consumed alcohol above a specified limit.
The government is contemplating the reduction of the drink-drive limit to enhance road safety, seeking public opinion through a poll on the matter.
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