| Chief Inspector Sandy Bowman was reacting to news that a review is expected to recommend cutting the limit to the equivalent of a pint of beer or glass of wine.
Transport Secretary Lord Adonis is set to back a recommendation to cut the legal limit from 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood to 50mg.
The review, by Sir Peter North, focuses on research at University College London which claims such a reduction would save the economy Ł120 million a year by reducing medical costs and lost working time.
The review is considering recommending an even lower limit of 20mg for novice motorists and HGV drivers.
The government believes the tougher law would prevent up to 65 deaths a year and a further 230 serious injuries.
If implemented, it would be the biggest shake-up of drink-driving laws since the breathalyser was introduced in the 1960s.
Chief Inspector Bowman said, “ACPOS and the Scottish Government have already backed a move for a reduction in the drink-driving limit.”
But he added, “If there is a reduction in the limit, we have to send a stronger message to drivers that it’s not about a pint, because it could be a pint of very strong lager which could take someone over that limit.
“That kind of reduction would bring it into line with most European states, but our position is what does that equate to for an individual.
“Personally I would say don’t drink and drive, then there’s no doubt.
“In terms of the limit at the moment, if somebody goes out and drinks two pints of beer or two large whiskies, it’s because they may think they’ll be under the limit.
“But that’s the wrong message because the effect it has on them depends on the strength of the beer, or an individual’s metabolism, what they’ve eaten or whether they are tired.
“It can get confusing and the best advice is you’re better to abstain totally if you are going to drive.”
At present the 80mg limit allows a man of average build to drink one-and-a-half to two pints of normal strength beer or three small glasses of wine. |
