Bill to lower drink driving limits passed in Dáil
New, lower drink driving limits were voted through the Dáil last night and are set to become law within a matter of weeks.
This is despite strong opposition from publicans and the Vintners' Association who say the lower limit will be the 'final nail in the coffin' for the pub industry.
The Road Traffic Bill will bring the drink-driving limit from 80 mg to 50 mg, the equivalent of one glass of wine or a pint of beer.
The new measures will also introduce mandatory breath testing for drivers involved in serious road accidents and ensure that foreign drivers get penalty points for drink driving.
Those caught driving with a blood alcohol level of between 50 and 80 milligrammes will not be banned from driving, but will get three penalty points.
That is in contrast to drivers who break the current 80 milligram limit, who get an automatic driving ban of a year.
Learner drivers and those who drive professionally will be subject to even lower drink driving limits of 20 milligrammes.
The Vintners Federation of Ireland had called for softening of legislation to avoid the collapse of the industry.
