How long till drinking and driving in the UK is completely outlawed?

As thread title.

I'm guessing within 5 years for the Government to say it's an outright ban on consuming any alcohol if you intend to drive.

Your thoughts?

[JohnG]

We've had an argument like this before, I still say you can't bring in a zero alcohol law as then you could never drive the next morning after a couple of drinks - even if you were well below the current limit.
If you had 1 pint at lunch time you then couldn't drive home at 5-30 !

I was banned for a year for drink driving five years ago I am ashamed to say. I have been literally paying for it ever since (insurance). I am now totally against it of course and am just thankful that I did no person or thing any damage. However what about the morning after if there is a zero mg/l blood ban? Can you imagine the number of work sick days (or half days) that will be taken. The countries that have zero policy also tend to be places where access to alcohol is also government controlled (e.g. Sweden)

[overkill]

Like everything, it would have to be applied sensibly. If you are followed from a pub after drinking alcohol - ban. If you are driving 24 hours later with a low level, let common sense prevail. Sadly, as we know so well, the law is low on common sense, high on 'sledgehammer'.

[eddidaz]

It's a good idea. I wouldn't touch a drop if I was driving (if I had a car ) but as someone mentioned, the morning after thing would screw everything up. So a little bit should be ok.

[madcyril]

I'm not sure but does certain medicines not show as low amounts of alchohol in blood tests which is why it will never be zero.

[LFC_SL]

Would that be a Labour or Conservative government?

I might as well be the first to say it

[Dom996]

Tricky one. I never have even one and drive, but I'm sure sometimes you could measure some booze in my system the morning after.

Drink too much anyway.

[Phil Hinton]

[personal opinion]
I actually think, for fairness, the system is about right now. However it doesn't take much to get you over so general rule would be don't have anything if you intend toi use the car, it's not hard.

[overkill]

Originally Posted by LFC_SL

Would that be a Labour or Conservative government?

I might as well be the first to say it

Since both have shown themselves to be interventionist/centralist over the last thirty years, either.

The Tories might think twice as one of the many lobbies that has them by the ***** is the car lobby. Not that I'm saying for an instant that 'Tonys Tories' aren't in hock to a few dodgy lobby groups......

[Knyght_byte]

i think they could lower the current level without affecting people who drink one night then go to work the next day....

because if you are still over the level the next morning, then it means you are quite possibly still under the influence as well, which means you shouldnt be driving.....

i know since they had a kid, my sisters fiance wont drive after a big night out till around the evening the following day.......

so the rule would be simple, dont get slaughtered if you know you need your car the following day early on........

i drink, i dont drive, if i did drive, i wouldnt drink if i knew i needed to drive.....same as i never drunk when i had an early start at work the next day........most of the jobs i did that involved me getting up early required me to use some kind of machinery, no way i wanted to lose my own fingers or somebody elses....

[mh123]

Originally Posted by madcyril

I'm not sure but does certain medicines not show as low amounts of alchohol in blood tests which is why it will never be zero.

Take a look at the ingredients on the typical bottle of mouthwash...

[JohnG]

I don't think that there's any way of telling how long the alcohol has been in the system for. So Someone who's just had a pint could try and claim that they had 2 pints 3 hours ago or something similar. I just don't think it's workable to test for zero % alcohol in the blood.

[MartinImber]

Current level is about right.

It is not moderate drinking which causes problems it is one of the following

1) Drinking too much ie 1.5 x limit and up

2) Drinking a bit and also tired - tiredness in my mind is a bigger killer than drinking and driving, as there are few DD thses days but many TDs. The current infatuation with lowering speed limits also does not help with the tiredness problem.

However there is still an attitude problem.

A person used to get well drunk then drive 1/3rd mile home. Turned right at end of double white lines. Occasionally they couldn't get their car on the drive! - left it all night blocking the main road/

I said "Why doesn't someone report him?"

Every one was shocked at the idea, I said I wouldn't hesitate. People said why?

Now this is a big problem - when people are still condoning it like this.

BTW the good news is he doesn't do it anymore as died due to excessive drinking. Pity it wasn't an artic!

[Nick_UK]

Originally Posted by Dom996

Tricky one. I never have even one and drive, but I'm sure sometimes you could measure some booze in my system the morning after.

Drink too much anyway.

I think a lot of people would be very surprised to know how much alcohol was still in their blood the morning after a "good night out". Very often it's enough to fail a breath test.

My sis-in-law's ex-husband was a copper, and after a family party (where many people stayed over) he got out the breathalysers the morning after, for a laugh. Half of us failed, including him !