Pubs face responsibility for drink-drivers

Government plans could force licensees to take responsibility for drink-drivers.

The Department for Transport (DfT) is to consider giving licensees more responsibility in its efforts to combat drink-driving, it announced last week.

Based on a review of its road safety strategy, the DfT will look at the role of the licensed trade, the duties of publicans, the possible introduction of random breath-testing and the idea of extending incentive schemes for designated drivers.

But licensees have hit out at what they feel could be unfair pressure.

Martin Jones, licensee of the Angel Inn in Royton, Lancashire, said: "I'd like to know what they want us to do that we're not doing at the moment.

"We do our best, but if someone wants to drink and drive, there's often nothing you can do. Sometimes you don't know if someone has had two pints in another pub or a gallon the night before."

At the Horseshoe in Matlock, Derbyshire, licensee James Hilton said tighter measures were not practical.

"You often don't know who is driving, especially during a busy session," he said.

"To target licensees or make them culpable seems a bit ridiculous. Will off-licences be expected to do the same when someone is buying crates of lager?"

The British Beer & Pub Association highlighted the role of the police. Spokesman Neil Williams said: "Licensees participate very actively in raising customer awareness, but at the end of the day, enforcement of the drink-drive laws is the responsibility of the police."

The DfT is set to consult on the measures this year. Its report found that drink-driving was "still a major problem" with 17 per cent of deaths on the road happening when thedriver is over the limit.

A DfT spokesman said: "We do encourage pub landlords to take an active role in preventing drink-driving, but there's no specific guidance at the moment so this will be looked at."