Calls to lower drink-drive limit for young drivers

The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) has urged the government to lower the alcohol limit for young drivers in a bid to curb the growing numbers of drink-drive deaths on Britain’s roads.

The ACMD wishes to see the limit reduced from 80mg to 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood for those aged under 25, because they are more likely to be involved in fatal drink-drive crashes than older drivers.

A three-year ACMD study entitled Pathways to Problems, highlights that “drink-drive deaths are at their highest since 1992, claiming 590 lives last year”. The death rate among young drivers has doubled in the past five years, the report adds.

The report declares: “Drivers under the age of 25 are more likely than older drivers to have road accidents and to fail alcohol tests when involved in accidents. Given the poorer driving skills and higher accident rates among inexperienced young drivers, we recommend that the government should give consideration to reducing the maximum blood-alcohol rate.”

It concluded that if a lower limit proved successful, it be extended to all drivers. Road-safety groups have backed the call to cut the legal alcohol limit.

National figures reveal that 14 per cent of road deaths of people 40 and over are caused by alcohol. For 20–29 year-olds the figure is 31 per cent.

A spokesman for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said: “Studies show that cutting the limit to 50 milligrams would save 65 lives and 230 serious injuries a year.

“Drivers with between 50 and 80mg of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood are two to two and a half times more likely to be involved in an accident, and six times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash, than someone who was sober.”

The government has resisted the call to lower the legal limit. Stephen Ladyman, Road Safety Minister, said that the current limit was adequate: “The government has no plans to change the drink-drive blood-alcohol limit for young drivers or anyone else. We continue to believe that education, robust enforcement and tough penalties are the most effective ways of persuading people.”

The ACMD report also recommended that the government “seriously consider” raising tax on alcohol, and to restrict the advertising of alcohol similar to the ban imposed on tobacco in 2003. The government is more receptive to this request.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport said although rules were made stricter last year, the ACMD report is “something we will look at and take on board”. She said the report would also be considered by broadcasting watchdog Ofcom, and the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA).
An ACMD spokesperson said: “The alcohol industry spends about £200 million annually on promoting a very misleading picture of the realities of alcohol consumption. Given the continuing rise in the prevalence of alcohol-related health problems and the high levels of drinking among young people, we recommend that a much stricter code for alcohol advertising (including via the internet) and sponsorship should be established.”