Fiona
Bruce MP raises alcohol awareness in Parliament
Fiona Bruce MP,
Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Alcohol Harm, raised a question
in Parliament this week, to mark alcohol awareness week, about the possibility
of a lower drink driving limit.
Fiona Bruce (Congleton) (Con): “This is alcohol awareness week. In
Scotland, the number of drink-driving offences dropped by 17% in the first
three months after the introduction of a lower drink-driving limit. In the
light of this encouraging evidence, is the Minister’s Department looking at the
public health implications of reviewing the drink-driving limit in England and
Wales as part of its alcohol review?”
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of
State for Health (Jane Ellison):
“Obviously, tackling drink-driving remains a priority for the Government. We
will be interested to see a robust and comprehensive evaluation of the change
to the Scottish drink-driving limit, and I can confirm that Public Health
England’s review of the public health impacts of alcohol will include
drink-driving. Obviously, some of the issues my hon. Friend raises are for the
Department for Transport, but I can confirm that we will be looking at this
issue, and I will be interested to see the evidence.”
The UK
currently has one of the highest blood alcohol limits for driving in the world,
at 80mg of alcohol per every 100ml of blood.
14% of all deaths in reported road traffic accidents in 2013 involved at
least 1 driver over the drink drive limit[1]
Late
last year, Scotland lowered its limit to be 50mg of alcohol per 100 ml of
blood. Preliminary figures suggest the new limit and its accompanying
awareness-raising campaign has had a positive influence on the number of drink
drivers,[2] and brings Scotland in line with much of
Europe.
Commenting, Fiona Bruce MP said: “The
tragic costs of drink driving are significant, both to individuals and their
families, and the risks to innocent bystanders are unacceptable. Almost one in
six deaths on the road involve drivers who are over the legal alcohol limit.
Tougher laws and greater enforcement would help prevent these casualties and
with the anticipated positive evidence that will be emerging from Scotland in
the coming months showing that a lower drink driving limit reduces the risk of
tragic accidents, including to innocent bystanders and passengers,, I will be launching
the campaign in Westminster to lower the drink driving limit in England and
save lives.”
ENDS
NOTE TO EDITOR
The APPG on
Alcohol Harm is currently conducting an Inquiry, chaired by Fiona Bruce MP, in
Parliament into the impact of excess alcohol consumption on the emergency
services. Further information about this can be obtained from the Secretariat
of the APPG, Alcohol Concern.
[1] Department for Transport, <https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/402698/rrcgb-drink-drive-2013-prov.pdf>
[2] The Scottish Government, < http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Drink-drive-campaign-success-144a.aspx >, [published 8 January 2015]
