Publicans warn cut in drink-drive limit will 'criminalise innocent'
A driver is breathlysed at a roadside checkpoint
Monday March 03 2008
Reducing the drink-drive limit would "make criminals out of innocent people", according to the biggest publicans' group in the country.
The Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) said such a move would have no impact on road casualties, and is a distraction from real issues like speeding and reckless driving.
However, the comments have enraged the Road Safety Authority (RSA), which said they should tell that to the families of road carnage victims and ask how they feel.
The Opposition also rejected the claim, stating that the only way to reduce the number of accidents and fatalities on the road was to lower the drink-driving limit.
The Government Road Safety Strategy, 2007-2012, recommends lowering the drink-driving limit by June 2009, but it does not suggest a specific limit.
The current limit of 80 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood or urine is the second highest limit in Europe.
Ireland is one of just two countries, the other of which is the UK, with such a high limit.
Studies have shown that dropping the limit to 50mg/100mls can significantly reduce road deaths.
But, according to VFI chief executive Padraig Cribben, reducing the drink-drive limit below the current threshold would be "totally wrong" and criminalise moderate drinkers.
The current legislation, he said, is working in relation to drink driving, with both publicans and customers aware of the rules and "getting the message".
He said the real issues that need to be tackled are speeding, fatigue, reckless driving, drunk driving, inexperienced driving and the quality of the roads.
"Reducing the blood alcohol level to below the current 0.8pc will do nothing except criminalise people who may have one drink on their way from work," he said.
"People, who may have had a glass of wine with dinner or who may be driving the morning after a responsible night out, will also be affected by this.
"The focus is totally wrong and reducing the blood alcohol levels will only make criminals out of innocent people."
"Proposals to reduce the blood alcohol limit as currently discussed will have no real impact on road casualties.
"It has been shown that where road deaths are linked to drink driving, the blood alcohol level is generally in excess of 1.5pc, not 0.8pc."
He pointed to Donegal coroner John Madden who recently claimed it was rare for those involved in road accidents to have blood alcohol levels of between 0.5pc and 0.8pc.
Inquests
Dr Madden said during his 17 years as coroner the vast majority of inquests into fatal traffic crashes, where alcohol was implicated, involved blood alcohol levels far in excess of the legal limit of 80mg/100ml.
However, Brian Farrell of the RSA said this was a "selective interpretation of the facts" and that delaying a reduction of the limit was "not an option".
"Just one drink impairs your driving. To dispute that is to say the world is flat," he said.
"I feel the Federation are completely wrong in what they are saying. They are factually wrong and are being selective with the facts.
"Coroners' inquests do not record cases where someone who may have been over the limit may have killed someone else, rather they are from toxicological reports of people who have died," he added.
"Ireland has a significant problem with alcohol and drink driving. The Federation should ask the families of victims how they feel about this," he said.
Fine Gael transport spokesperson Fergus O'Dowd said "study after study" had shown that reducing the alcohol level reduced accidents.
Opposition colleague Labour TD Tommy Broughan said the era of drink driving was over and it was "clear" the alcohol limit needed to be reduced.
Pressure is mounting on the Government to cut the legal limit.
- Patricia McDonagh
