The drink-driving limit in England was last changed in 1967
A pint of beer and a set of car keys on a bar in a pub in central London. (Image: Philip Toscano/PA Wire )
Following this week’s announcement by the Department for Transport that the drink-driving limit will be lowered for the first time in over 50 years, we’re taking a look at how much you can drink before you’re over the threshold under the new rules.
Under a number of plans reportedly being considered by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, the drink-drive limit in England and Wales could be cut from 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath to 22 micrograms.
This figure would bring both countries in line with Scotland – which cut its drink-drive limit in 2014 – and the rest of Europe, where no other country has a limit as high.
The proposals would mean an 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.
Alcohol remains in your system for quite some time after consumption, and so you may still be over the limit the morning after a party.
However, the effect of alcohol varies greatly between individuals due to factors like weight, age, metabolism, and whether you’ve eaten.
The number of fatalities in drink-driving collisions has increased substantially over the previous decade, hitting a 13-year peak in 2022.
This has prompted concerns that existing road safety measures are no longer working.
As reported by The Times, ministers are expected to also seek to make it easier for police to bring prosecutions for drug-driving by allowing them to rely on roadside saliva tests for evidence rather than blood tests.
There has been a 78 per cent increase in the number of drivers killed on Britain’s roads in the past decade who were found to have drugs in their system.
A motorist stopped by police to give a breath test. (Image: John Giles/PA Wire )
Targeting drink and drug drivers is a “practical step that can make a real difference”, said AA president, Edmund King.
“The time has come for a bold and proactive approach to road safety.
“This strategy is much overdue as road deaths have plateaued over the last decade.”
He added: “We believe these new measures will not only modernise our approach to saving lives but also provide renewed momentum in making our roads safer for everyone.”
Some of the other proposals being considered by the government include tougher penalties for uninsured driving and failing to wear a seatbelt.
A new road safety strategy is expected to be published in the autumn.