BII: drink-drive limit change unlikely

Trade chief Neil Robertson says he's "reasonably optimistic" the Government won't alter the drink-drive limit after a committee of MPs rejected calls to change them.

The Transport Select Committee rejected proposals to reduce the limit from 80 to 50mg per 100ml of blood in a new report.

Instead, it recommended greater enforcement of the current limit and giving police additional powers to carry random breath tests as part of a targeted drink drive campaign.

The Government has three months to respond to the Committee's report and could decide to ignore the recommendations.

But Robertson, chief executive of the BII, said: "I think we are reasonably optimistic that the Government will see sense and not change the regulations that are well understood and have the buy-in of the public."

Robertson revealed that the BII did not take part in the Government-endorsed drink-drive campaign this Christmas in protest at the barrage of regulation being forced on the trade.

"It's not because we don't think [the campaign] is right.We are just so fed up being punished from every side so couldn't ask members to support this while they [the Government] are being so harsh everywhere else."

But he said it's likely the BII would take part next year.

Meanwhile, the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers has also urged the Government not to change the drink-drive limit.

Chief executive Nick Bish said: "We are committed to doing all we can to further reduce the number of deaths associated with drink driving.

"That is why we urged the Committee and the Government to stick to the current limit.

"Any change would send out a mixed message with the official advice not to drink and drive at all — and that is a risk we are not prepared to take."