Britain Decides to Stay at 0.08

The UK is one of four European Union member countries with a blood alcohol limit above 0.05 (50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood).

After looking closely at the arguments for and against reducing the limit, the UK government decided in March to leave its BAC at 0.08, and to maintain the emphasis on enforcement and education through publicity. The penalties for drinking and driving in Britain are among the toughest in Europe.

The UK government's approach of powerful publicity and enforcement backed by strong penalties has achieved the two-thirds reduction in impaired driving deaths since the 1970s. It will focus on measures such as extension and targeting of its £2m ($4.5 million Cdn) annual campaigns, interlock devices to prevent recidivism, stronger enforcement powers for police and others.

Transport Local Government Regions, UK, News release, March 20, 2002

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Impaired Driving