Kinnock seeks to cut drink drive limit

Irish motorists will be limited by law to one pint before driving if the European Commission has its way. The EU Transport Commissioner, Mr Neil Kinnock, yesterday confirmed that the Commission intended to resubmit to ministers a 10-year-old proposal to set a common blood alcohol ceiling of 50 milligrammes per 100 millilitres throughout Europe.

Ireland is unlikely to support a change. A spokesman for the Department of the Environment said yesterday that the priority was the strict observance of the new 80 mg limit, reduced from 100 mg in 1995.

Ireland, the UK and four other member-states currently share a limit of 80 mg, while others have limits ranging from that level down to 20 mg in Sweden. Sweden would not, under the Commission's proposal, be obliged to relax its current provisions.

Mr Kinnock said yesterday that detailed statistics compiled by the Commission on a new computer database clearly showed that a reduction to 50 mg would save lives. "We therefore have a duty to introduce it," he said.

The proposal, which does not involve any harmonisation of penalties, was put to transport ministers back in 1988. It was rejected then largely on the grounds that the issue was one for national legislatures. Commission sources believe, however, that with Britain indicating it may be willing to change its position, the necessary qualified majority could be achieved this time.

Diplomatic sources say a change is unlikely. The issue is likely to go to a vote at the November Council meeting.

Some 45,000 drivers are killed on the roads every year in the EU, with between five and 40 per cent of fatalities linked to alcohol. A Commission spokeswoman also said yesterday that the new database showed that one in 20 randomly-tested drivers gave results in excess of prescribed limits.

The Independent Kerry South TD and publican, Mr Jackie Healy-Rae, said he would be "absolutely and totally opposed" to any further reduction in the drink driving limit. He challenged Mr Kinnock to produce proof that the proposed reduction would save lives and suggested no such proof existed.

The Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) said it would resist any EU proposal to reduce the drink driving limit in Ireland.Mr Paul O'Grady, president of the VFI, said the current legislation here was tough enough and was working. He added that publicans did not believe that any further reduction would save one extra life. "Speed is the biggest killer on the roads today."