Drink-limit cut 'would bring only confusion'

REDUCING the drink-drive limit would bring only uncertainty for motorists, licensees have warned. The draft alcohol strategy proposes lowering the limit from 80mg to 50mg/100ml in blood, bringing the island into line with some Continental countries but out of step with the UK.

But Hampshire Lodge landlord Peter Leigh said that it would lead to people being unsure about how much they could drink before driving. 'If it's one unit, what does that mean? Can you have a glass of wine with your meal? How does it work?

'No one wants a tragedy, but how many serious accidents have been caused by drink-driving?'

With the introduction of the breathalyser, he said, it was now an easy conviction that could ruin people's lives. 'You try to do the right thing ' have a drink and leave the car behind ' but then the police are looking for you in the morning. It's understandable, because it's against the law, but a lot of people do it,' he said. A new limit could also affect trade in out-of-Town pubs, he added.

Home Department minister Mike Torode said it was safer to have nothing alcoholic to drink and to encourage this, the licensed trade had to stock reasonably-priced soft drinks.

'Research has consistently shown a relationship between blood-alcohol level and the deterioration of driving skills, with significant impairment occurring from as little as 20mg/100ml,' the report said.

It adds that young drivers are more accident-prone, with a lower alcohol-tolerance level further increasing the risk.

In another attempt to curb drink-driving, the strategy calls for the courts to be able to impose education orders on repeat offenders or those with very high alcohol readings.

Alcohol awareness would also form part of the driving theory test.

'Education orders are used in other places. If people lose their licence, it can be that they are put through a course on the effects of alcohol and it might even be a mitigating factor in allowing them to apply for early restitution of their licence,' said Deputy Torode.