NI drink drive limit to be slashed

26/09/11

By Emma McFarnon

The after-work pint in Northern Ireland may be relegated to the history books if new measures to almost half the drink drive limit come into force.

The blood alcohol limit will fall from 80mg per 100ml of blood, which currently allows motorists to have at least one drink and drive, to 50mg of alcohol for most drivers. The limit for young or inexperienced motorists or those who drive for a living will drop to 20mg.

Random breath testing will enforce the new limits, which constitute the biggest shake-up in the law for 40 years.

Other proposals include giving police random breath testing powers which would allow them to breathalyse drivers even if they don't have reason to suspect that the driver had consumed alcohol.

Motorists found to be over the limit could be automatically referred to an approved drink drive rehabilitation scheme. A graduated penalty regime including fixed penalties for first offences at lower limits may also be implemented.

Environment Minister Alex Attwood is also said to be considering removing the right, in certain circumstances, to ask for a blood or urine sample to replace a breath test sample.

"There is widespread public support for a step change in how we deal with drink drivers and I believe that what I am proposing will make a real difference," said Mr Attwood.