Government ponders slashing drink-drive limits

The Government is considering cutting the drink-driving limit to just half a pint of beer or a small glass of wine, according to reports this morning.

Yesterday roads minister Stephen Ladyman said a cut in the UK limit from 80mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood to 50 mg could be introduced in a move that would bring the UK in line with the European average.

The proposal would also be backed by an increase of traffic policing around pubs as Ladyman noted that drink-driving accidents involving people aged 19 and younger have steadily increased over the past ten years from 810 in 1995 to 1,050 in 2005.

A reduction was first hinted at back in February as part of the Department of Transport's road safety review.

Recently the Government has promoted measures to crack-down on under-age drinking and binge drinking placing increased pressure on pubs and bars in the way they promote and sell alcohol.

Read more in The Telegraph >>
Read more in the Guardian >>

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By Christopher Walton

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