Scots set to slash drink-drive limit
By: JimOldfield
June 4th, 2012
Scotland is set to almost HALF its drink-drive alcohol limit in a move to align itself with continental Europe.
The lowering of the limit from 80milligrams of alcohol per 100ml of blood to 50mg will mean drivers will be able to have just one pint of normal-strength beer or a small glass of wine to have a hope of staying within the law.
The move will put further pressure on the rest of the UK for a similar drink-drive cut – Britain currently has one of the highest drink-drive limits in Europe, and researchers insist that reducing it to 50mg across the UK would save 65 lives a year.
As part of a new devolution of powers from Westminster, MSPs will get the power to set their own limits from July 1 – and the SNP Government intends to lower the limit by the end of this year, in a move fronted by Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill.
Mr MacAskill said: “The Scottish Government has long called for a reduction to 50mg. Evidence from across Europe shows that alcohol-related road deaths drop dramatically where the limit has been reduced.
“The Scottish Government will bring forward proposals later this year, with a view to the change taking effect as soon as possible.”
