How much you're allowed to drink under UK's proposed new driving law
Stricter drink-driving limits are set to be rolled out across England and Wales, including how much alcohol you’re allowed to consume before getting behind the wheel.
Statistics estimate that every day, an estimated 28 people die in drink-driving accidents around the world. That’s one person every 52 minutes.
The latest Government figures show that the number of drink-driving fatalities in Britain has worryingly risen to its highest level since 2009 - accounting for a fifth (18 percent) of all road-related deaths.
It is therefore no wonder than eight in 10 (82 percent) motorists think tougher measures should be put in place, as per RAC’s 2025 Report on Motoring.
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To combat these numbers, The Department for Transport (DfT) has put forward a solution: to decrease the amount of alcohol learner and recently qualified drivers can drink before driving.
Newly proposed drink-driving limits
The proposed reduction would see the limit falling from 80mg per 100ml of blood to around 20mg, the BBC reported.
For all other drivers, the level would be lowered to around 50mg, the current limit in Scotland.
According to a government commissioned review, the 50mg mark would help save between 43 to 168 lives - as well as avoiding large numbers of serious injuries, which a conservative estimate is 280.
Other limit changes include 22mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, and 67mg in 100ml of urine.
The new limits were proposed as part of the government’s new road safety strategy, which hopes to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on Britain’s roads by 65 percent before 2035.
How new drink-driving limits may impact pubs
Speaking about the forthcoming drink-driving limits, transport minister Lilian Greenwood said that her office didn’t ‘want to stop people from going to the pub and having a great night out’.
But while the blood alcohol limit is not zero, Greenwood has advised that the best option may be considering not drinking altogether, either opting for alcohol-free drinks or leaving your car at home.
“What we’re just saying is don’t take your car,” she told Times Radio.
Asked if people should just not drink at all if they're considering driving, she also told Sky News: “That’s probably the best advice. If you’re going to drive, don’t have a drink. If you want to have a drink, leave your car at home.”
Despite Greenwood’s insistence that the UK government does not want to curb pub culture, experts have warned of the harm that the move could do to rural institutions in areas without public transport.
“The pub sector continues to face huge challenges, so any additional policy measures that further impact trade will be of real concern to licensees, especially those in rural areas,” a spokesperson for the British Beer and Pub Association said toThe Telegraph.
Penalties are being reviewed
Yahoo News! reported that penalties for drink driving will also be reviewed.
New powers to suspend driving licences for people suspected of drink or drug-related driving offences, are being considered.
Currently, drink driving is punishable in England and Wales with up to six months in prison, a one-year driving ban, and an unlimited fine.
Other proposed changes
As well as tackling drink-driving, the UK government wants to introduce eye and cognitive tests for older drivers.
This may mean that people aged 70 and over may have to have their vision checked every three years.
Learner drivers may have to have a six month period between sitting their theory and practical tests, and the process of learning to ride a motorbike could be overhauled.
Ella Scott