Rules will bring new penalties but not change limits

THE new drink-driving rules that are set to become law in the coming months will introduce new penalties for drink drivers but will not change the drink-driving limits.

The law, if enacted, means that anyone found over the limit now faces a mandatory ban for three months, instead of a fine and three penalty points as is currently the case.

That limit is set at 50mg per 100ml of blood. It is generally accepted that one standard drink is enough to put people over the limit – a standard drink is half a pint, a small glass of wine or a pub measure of spirits.

But alcohol affects everyone differently and a number of factors including gender and weight are among the things that can influence the point at which a person becomes over the limit.

Road safety advocates caution that any alcohol impairs driving and urge that anyone planning to drive simply does not partake of any drink.

The limit is even lower for learner and professional drivers who face automatic disqualification if found to be over the drink-driving limit, and the threshold is lower at 20mg.