Ministers are encountering resistance from pub owners regarding their proposal to reduce the drink-drive limit as a safety measure. The potential change would bring the limit in England and Wales down from 35 to 22 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath, aligning it with Scotland’s limit set in 2014. Presently, England and Wales have the highest limit in Europe alongside Malta.
Lowering the limit could result in even a single pint causing some individuals to surpass the threshold, as factors like age, weight, and gender influence how much alcohol a person can consume before reaching the limit.
Concerns have been raised by representatives of rural pubs about the impact of the plan on their sector. However, government officials have defended the proposal, emphasizing the need to prevent further tragedies caused by drink-driving. They highlighted that the pub industry in Scotland did not suffer significantly after the limit reduction there.
Transport minister Ms. Greenwood stressed the importance of not mixing drinking and driving, urging people to leave their cars at home if they plan to drink. She cited the loss of lives due to drink-driving as a driving force behind the proposed change.
In 2024, 1,633 individuals lost their lives, and nearly 28,000 sustained serious injuries in traffic accidents on British roads. Despite a substantial decline in incidents between 2000 and 2010, the number of fatalities related to drink-driving has been on the rise in recent years, reaching a 13-year peak in 2022.
Notable critics of the initiative include Reform leader Nigel Farage, who expressed concerns about the detrimental impact on country pubs across the country. The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) acknowledged the importance of promoting responsible drinking but highlighted the challenges faced by the pub sector, particularly in rural areas, regarding potential policy measures that could affect trade.
The proposed road safety strategy, described as the most significant overhaul in decades, also includes measures such as mandating convicted drink-drivers to install “alcolocks” 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 device that prevents a driver from operating a vehicle if they have consumed alcohol above a specified limit.
Public opinion on the government’s plan to lower the drink-drive limit is being sought through a poll. Readers are encouraged to share their views on the matter by participating in the survey.