Drink-drive limit cut fear for rural pubs
Rural pubs are facing another blow to business after a leading police officer called for drink-drive limits to be reduced.
Chief Constable Richard Brunstrom, head of road policing at the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), said the high number of drink-drivers arrested over the festive period means the limit should be cut in an attempt to halt the trend.
He has called for the limit to be dropped to 50mg from 80mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood, in line with most other European countries. This follows news that the percentage of drivers who were involved in accidents because they were drunk remained at just under nine per cent, a similar figure to last year.
But the trade has hit out at the calls, claiming any cut in the limit could prove the last nail in the coffin for many struggling country pubs.
Christian Hodgkinson, licensee of the Warpole Arms, in Itteringham, Norfolk, is concerned about the move.
"I would not want the limit reduced," he said. "As a rural pub people need to drive to us. I think if it was dropped it would affect our trade and I would expect some people not to bother to come out at all."
In March 2002 trade leaders successfully argued against a drop in the limit on the grounds that the UK is very strict in enforcing its higher limit. And back in 1998, when the government put forward proposals to reduce the limit, The Publican drummed up some 8,000 signatures for a petition against the move.
However, Chief Constable Brunstrom said: "I believe that it is time the government followed the European Commission recommendation of a lower blood alcohol limit of 50mg and extended police powers to enable the use of intelligence to target and prosecute offenders."
The figures for the two weeks between December 18, 2003 and January 2, 2004 showed that there were 11,622 breath tests administered in collisions reported to police - a drop of just over six per cent on last year.
But the percentage of drivers who failed the test had risen to 8.9 per cent from 8.71 per cent last year. ACPO said the number of failed tests had been rising gradually since 1998.
The trade has criticised the latest calls for a drop in the drink-drive limit. Many experts believe such a cut would not stop hardcore offenders and could have a devastating effect on rural pubs.
Mark Hastings, spokesman for the British Beer & Pub Association, said: "The figures reveal that there were actually fewer people arrested for drink-driving this year.
"If the number of offences is falling that does not support the argument for a drop in the drink-driving limit.
"The figures are actually a success story as there have been fewer offences and fewer drink-drivers."
Jim Minton, spokesman for The Portman Group, said: "The drink-drive limit should be kept under review but all evidence shows that strict enforcement and harsh penalties work better. There should be a clear message for people not to drink and drive."
Pictured: Anti-drink-drive campaigns such as the one above in Kent failed to cut the number of festive arrests.
