One for the road 'could drive No vote'

A proposed reduction in drink drive limits may become an issue on the Lisbon Treaty referendum, publicans claimed today.

The Vintners' Federation of Ireland (VFI) claims that plans to reduce the amount of alcohol that can be legally consumed before driving could make people vote ‘No’ in the second referendum held on the treaty in Ireland in as many years.

The Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey is expected to implement a Road Safety Authority (RSA) recommendation and reduce the blood-alcohol limit from 80mg to 50mg and introduce a new limit of 20mgs for inexperienced drivers.

The new limit would effectively mean drivers could no longer consume one unit of alcohol – equivalent to a half pint or a small glass of wine – and drive.

Mr Dempsey said yesterday that he is committed to reducing the drink drive limit and would bring forward a Road Traffic Bill to provide for the changes in the autumn.

Speaking on Newstalk radio today, VFI chief executive Padraig Cribben suggested “people in rural Ireland will see this as more of the nanny statism, and it probably would affect the way they might consider voting in respect of the Lisbon treaty”.

He claimed that reducing the drink drive limit would not save lives and would put more than 1,000 pubs out of business by stopping drivers from enjoying a small drink. Mr Cribben said speeding was the real threat to road safety.

Because such tough decisions as lowering drink-driver limits are often blamed on Brussels, the move could turn people against the EU, he told Newstalk.

The RSA says one alcoholic drink can impair driving by affecting the ability to judge distances and slowing reaction time.

The VFI is lobbying Fianna Fáil to try and block any changes and rural TDs raised the matter at a parliamentary party meeting at the start of the month.

Additional reporting Reuters