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14/05/2008
Bar Owners Warn Drink Limit Cut Will Isolate Rural Customers
Pub owners have slammed Government proposals to further reduce blood alcohol limits for drivers, saying it will leave people "trapped in their homes".
Members of the Vintners' Federation of Ireland (VFI), met in Carlow yesterday, reacted angrily to new recommendations by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) to reduce the current limit of 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood to 50mg for ordinary drivers and down to 20mg for learner and commercial drivers.
The federation said the proposed further reductions would result in the "criminalisation of people who have just one drink" and will "further isolate rural dwellers".
Padraig Cribben, VFI chief executive officer said: "We do not believe that changing the blood alcohol levels will reduce the number of deaths on our roads,
"The recognised number-one killer on our roads in speed, yet 66pc of those caught speeding end up with no conviction or fine. The Government has to get its priorities right on this issue."
Val Hanley, who took over as president of the VFI yesterday, said people were being trapped in their homes by "harsh" new testing laws.
"Much of Ireland is very rural and we're ending up with people trapped in their homes and put in situations where they are losing their minds," he said.
He added: "We've lost the post office, the local shop and garda station, so any new blood alcohol reduction would be very harsh at this point in time."
Mr Dempsey said the RSA recommendations are "not an unusual proposal in the sense that it's making a distinction between ordinary drivers and inexperienced and professional drivers".
He indicated the RSA recommendations would be taken into account when drawing up the new Road Traffic Act, which is due to be submitted for approval over the coming months.
(DW/JM)
Members of the Vintners' Federation of Ireland (VFI), met in Carlow yesterday, reacted angrily to new recommendations by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) to reduce the current limit of 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood to 50mg for ordinary drivers and down to 20mg for learner and commercial drivers.
The federation said the proposed further reductions would result in the "criminalisation of people who have just one drink" and will "further isolate rural dwellers".
Padraig Cribben, VFI chief executive officer said: "We do not believe that changing the blood alcohol levels will reduce the number of deaths on our roads,
"The recognised number-one killer on our roads in speed, yet 66pc of those caught speeding end up with no conviction or fine. The Government has to get its priorities right on this issue."
Val Hanley, who took over as president of the VFI yesterday, said people were being trapped in their homes by "harsh" new testing laws.
"Much of Ireland is very rural and we're ending up with people trapped in their homes and put in situations where they are losing their minds," he said.
He added: "We've lost the post office, the local shop and garda station, so any new blood alcohol reduction would be very harsh at this point in time."
Mr Dempsey said the RSA recommendations are "not an unusual proposal in the sense that it's making a distinction between ordinary drivers and inexperienced and professional drivers".
He indicated the RSA recommendations would be taken into account when drawing up the new Road Traffic Act, which is due to be submitted for approval over the coming months.
(DW/JM)
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