The Government has suggested it will probe the impact of a cut in the drink-drive limit on pubs before making any changes.
Transport Secretary Philip Hammond promised to "fully investigate" the economic impact of cutting the limit from 80 to 50mg per 100ml of blood, as recommended in today's report from Sir Peter North.
In a statement, Hammond said: "Sir Peter's report is a serious piece of work that covers a wide range of issues and makes 51 detailed recommendations.
"We will need to carefully consider these with other Government departments.
"In doing so it is important that we fully investigate the economic and public service resource impact of any suggested changes to the law, taking account of the current financial and economic situation.
"Our priority will be to tackle drink and drug driving in the most effective way possible to protect law abiding road users. We will respond to Sir Peter in due course."
Prior to the election, Conservative transport spokeswoman Theresa Villiers said her party would not cut the drink drive limit.
"We do not believe the case has been made to justify such a change. We would focus on enforcement of the current rules."
However, the new coalition Government has yet to reveal its policy on the issue.
Criticism from the trade
Meanwhile, trade chief Nick Bish has criticised North's suggestion to lower the drink-driving limit.
"The UK already has a robust enforcement regime with severe penalties and has among the lowest drink-drive deaths in Europe," said the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers chief executive.
"Of course we want to make it better but major changes in the blood alcohol limits are not necessarily the way to do this; other countries have lower limits and yet a worse record.
"Social and peer pressure have convinced people that it is absolutely not acceptable to drink and drive. We should play to our strengths and reinforce the policing, the peer pressure and the public messaging."
"Pubs are the best and safest places to drink. The report does recognise that pubs have successfully long promoted the "Don't Drink & Drive' message and implemented dozens of initiatives from Designated Driver to Get-you-home schemes.
"What worries me is that well-meaning regulations sometimes have unintended consequences and drive people away from drinking in a supervised environment where they are served by someone who is sober, towards the home or round at friends where there is no automatic duty of care regarding alcohol consumption".