Labour’s ‘ridiculous’ new drink-drive limit has been dreamt up by the Islington cycling elite, Nigel Farage said on Wednesday.
The Reform UK leader warned that plans to cut the drink-driving limit so that even a single pint could see drivers breaking the law will be a ‘death knell for country pubs’.
Mr Farage claimed the law was ‘being designed by the Islington, north London, bicycling classes’ who did not understand transport in rural Britain.
It comes as a Labour minister was forced to deny that plans to tighten the drink-drive limit are aimed at stopping people enjoying a ‘great night out’.
Meanwhile the boss of Britain’s oldest brewery warned that the devastation wrought on pubs by Rachel Reeves may be on the same level as ‘what Margaret Thatcher did to the miners’.
Under plans announced on Tuesday, the Government will consult on slashing the limit from 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath to 22 micrograms to bring it in line with Scotland.
This means that even one standard drink could be risky for some drivers – particularly women and smaller people – as alcohol is processed at varying speeds depending on age, weight and metabolism.
Any changes to drink-drive limits are likely to be a further blow to pubs – particularly those in rural areas – after hikes to business rates and the minimum wage left some landlords struggling.
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Reform leader Nigel Farage said: ‘This is a death knell for country pubs across Britain. Labour has no connection to how real life works’
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Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood insisted that the change would not stop people having a ‘great night out’
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Mr Farage told a press conference on Wednesday that the move would be a ‘death knell for country pubs across Britain’.
‘The drink-drive thing is absolutely ridiculous,’ he said. ‘Wholly unnecessary. We’ve been where we’ve been since 1967, it’s worked pretty effectively.
‘If you actually look at road casualty figures… we’re now incredibly safe on our roads. Much safer than France, way safer than Germany.
‘We’ve actually reached a level on accidents beneath which it is almost impossible to go. Because there will always be human error of some kind.’
The row over drink driving laws adds to publicans’ fury as they face a perfect storm of cost pressures, including a brutal business rates increase and minimum wage increases.
Jonathan Neame, the boss of Shepherd Neame, Britain’s oldest brewery, said: ‘I think there is a real risk that Rachel Reeves is doing to our sector what Margaret Thatcher did to the miners.’
He told The Times that the government’s handling of the policy ‘socially, morally and economically wrong’.
Chris Jowsey, chief executive of Admiral Taverns, said a tougher drink drive limit would be ‘another blow to rural pubs in particular’ and was ‘all the more reason’ for Labour to halt its business rate increases.
Their remarks follow those of Greene King chief executive Nick Mackenzie, who oversees 2,600 pubs, who warned Reeves’ increases ‘could be the tipping point that changes the shape of the industry forever’.
UK Hospitality has found that small venues – such as pubs, bars and cafes – will see rates bills rise by £318million over the next three years.
Matt Todd, who runs the Wonston Arms near Winchester, said pubs ‘cannot soak up any more costs when the industry is screaming’. He said that his rates bill has ‘gone through the roof’, despite ‘smoke and mirrors’ from the Government.
However the Department for Transport pointed to studies showing that there hasn’t been a significant long-term impact on pubs in Scotland since the drink-drive limit was changed there in 2014.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told LBC: ‘I’m sorry, but rural pubs still do exist in Scotland. The law changed there in 2014, we’re not proposing to do anything different than what the Scottish Government did a decade ago.
‘I think that even though it’s quite a marginal difference that we are proposing, I think the vast majority of people are responsible and that they don’t drink and drive when they go to the pub.’
LABOUR’S ROAD SAFETY STRATEGY AT A GLANCE
– Mandatory eye tests for over 70s: This would see all motorists aged 70 and over required to obtain a current eye test and include it with their application to renew their licence every three years. The Department for Transport (DfT) has also pledged to ‘develop options for cognitive testing for older drivers’ as these do not currently exist.
– Stricter drink drive limits: The Government will consult on lowering the drink-drive limit in England and Wales, with this expected to be slashed from 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath to 22 micrograms per 100ml of breath to bring it in line with Scotland. Novice drivers face an even stricter drink-drive limit, meaning they would not be able to have even a small glass of wine before getting behind the wheel during the two-year probationary period after passing a test.
– Minimum period of learning for new drivers: The Government will look to introduce a three or six-month minimum period of learning for first time drivers in a bid to reduce the number of collisions involving young drivers. The aim is to give young drivers more time to develop their skills, including driving at night, in adverse weather and heavy traffic.
– Crackdown on illegal number plates: New measures will target the growing problem of illegal number plates, including ‘ghost’ plates designed to fool road cameras.
– Penalties for passengers not wearing seat belts: Drivers could be handed penalty points if passengers are caught not wearing seat belts, with additional points for drivers who do not ensure children wear seat belts.
– Crackdown on uninsured drivers: Drivers have also been warned by the DfT that it will ‘crack down on uninsured drivers and vehicles without a valid MOT’, with drivers reportedly facing fines of up to £600 if caught without valid car insurance.
– Tougher fines and penalties: Proposals include new powers to suspend the licences of people suspected of drink or drug driving until they appear in court, as currently people who are on bail for these offences are free to continue driving. Drink drivers could also be forced to have alcolocks fitted to their vehicles, which prevent a car from being started or driven unless the motorist passes a breath test.
– Changes for motorcyclists: The process of learning to ride a motorbike could be overhauled following a consultation, including changes to the Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) and schemes to ensure motorcyclists are wearing safe helmets to reduce road deaths.
– Headlight glare: The government will carry out research aimed at identifying what vehicle makes and models are responsible for increased headlamp glare, which can blind drivers at night, with this potentially used to update standards for headlights.
