There is rising pressure facing the UK government to reduce the legal limit of alcohol consumption when driving. The current limit stands at 80mg per 100ml of blood which relates to approximately a pint and a half of medium strength lager for an average sized man. The proposed limit would bring it down to 50mg per 100ml of blood which is little more than half a pint or a large glass of wine which is in line with the European Union limit.

There is rising pressure facing the UK government to reduce the legal limit of alcohol consumption when driving. The current limit stands at 80mg per 100ml of blood which relates to approximately a pint and a half of medium strength lager for an average sized man. The proposed limit would bring it down to 50mg per 100ml of blood which is little more than half a pint or a large glass of wine which is in line with the European Union limit.

Currently anyone caught driving over the legal limit faces an automatic 12 month driving ban but Sir Peter North QC is currently reviewing the case to introduce a lesser penalty for a lower limit such as 6 points on a driving licence. Changes could also see prosecutions for drivers found with illegal drugs in their bloodstream, regardless of whether it impaired their performance.

According to Lord Adonis, the Transport Secretary, 430 people were killed as a result of drink driving last year however this figure only refers to people who were over the current legal limit. He also suggests drug-driving is a key concern for the public.

Sir Peter North exclaimed that ''Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs still leads to a large number of deaths and serious injuries. The challenge is to see whether changes in the law and its processes can reduce casualties."

President of the AA, Edmund King, commented that "the legal issue is more complex than the limit as a sliding scale of penalties could reduce the deterrent effect. There is a serious problem with drink drive repeat offenders with recent figures suggesting that almost a quarter of drink drivers have served a previous ban."

But the proposals were condemned by Tony Payne, chief executive of the Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations. "We will fight this very very strongly," he said. "This will penalise responsible people because of the behaviour of some idiots.