Cutting the drink-drive limit and stopping over 70s driving if they fail eye tests are among recently unveiled Government plans to make roads safer in England and Wales. The drink-drive limit stands at 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
After remaining unchanged since 1967, it could now be lowered to 22 micrograms in England and Wales, bringing those nations into line with Scotland, where the limit was reduced in 2014. But what would this mean for those planning to get behind the wheel after an evening at the pub?
Emergency medicine doctor Ann Jarris, of Seattle in the US, told the Express a 22mcg per 100ml breath limit was roughly equivalent to 0.05% blood alcohol.
At this level, “there isn’t a safe or universal ‘number of drinks’ that guarantees you’ll be legal”, she warned.
Dr Jarris, who is medical director at defibrillator company Response Ready, said: “As a rough guide, for an average‑build man, about one pint (568ml) of 4% beer may leave you under at peak, while two pints will put most people over.
“A single strong pint at 5% can push many over the limit. A 175ml glass of 12% wine could be close to the limit, a 250ml pub glass will likely be over, and two single 25ml measures of 40% spirits may be close while doubles or mixed drinks usually tip you over.”
For women, even one pint of 4% beer or 175ml glass of 12% wine could push you over the limit, Dr Jarris added.
She explained: “These are population averages, not promises, because absorption and elimination vary widely with physiology, food, and timing.
“From an emergency medicine, public safety, and compliance and risk management perspective, the practical, lawful choice is not to drink at all if you’ll be driving.
“Both alcohol by volume and serving size drive the number of units you consume, and that directly affects your breath reading.”
Dr Jarris added that pours and strengths can vary in real-world settings such as pubs and events, meaning that relying on estimates of “standard drinks” can be risky for public safety.
The Government said progress on road safety had “stalled” and will consult on its plan to lower the drink-drive limit.