Campaigners have said that it is unfair that drivers who are over the new drink driving laws in Scotland, but would fall under the previous limit which is the same as in force in the rest of the UK, should receive the same penalties as those that are found to have alcohol above the higher limit in their system. They want a two tier penalty system, so that drivers who are only just over the new limit would not face a minimum 12 month ban, a fine of up to £5,000, and a potential jail sentence.
However, police and supporters of the changes, have said that preventing deaths and injuries is their first priority and that if the changes manage to prevent even a single death, then they will have proven successful.
Changes to the drink driving law in Scotland were introduced on 5th December, and these mean that drivers in Scotland now face a lower limit on the amount of alcohol they are allowed than drivers in England and Wales. The new limit is set at 50mg per 100ml of breath, which for most people will mean a single pint of beer or a single glass of wine will put them over the limit. In England and Wales, however, drivers are permitted up to 80mg per 100ml, although this is the equal highest limit in Europe, and there are those that have called for the limit to be dropped across the whole country.
The new limits have been blamed for the demise of a number of pubs, and they have even been blamed for a poor performing Scottish company because they have, according to the chief economist for the Bank of Scotland, stunted growth of the pub and alcohol industry in the country. Landlords fear that the effects will be far worse than were experienced following the smoking ban.
Since the new limits were introduced, only 42 drivers have been found to have had an alcohol level between the current 50mg and the old 80mg limit, from a total of 491 convicted drink drivers.
