The UK government has launched a landmark consultation that could see England's drink-drive limit drastically reduced for the first time in nearly six decades. The proposed change would lower the legal threshold, effectively creating a one-pint limit for most drivers.
A Radical Shift in Road Safety Policy
The Labour government is proposing to cut the legal limit from 35 micrograms (mcg) of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath to 22mcg. This would bring England and Wales into line with Scotland and many European nations like France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. The consultation, announced on 7 January 2026, also explores introducing an even stricter limit for novice drivers.
Local Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood stated the move was long overdue. "Driving under the influence of alcohol puts everyone at risk," she said. "Every drink-drive collision represents a preventable tragedy. For nearly 60 years our limit has remained the same while other countries have acted." She added that she had met families devastated by collisions involving drunk drivers under the current limit.
Mixed Reactions from Motoring Groups and Critics
The proposal has sparked a heated debate. Edmund King, president of the AA, hailed it as a "radical reframing of road safety." Similarly, Rod Dennis of the RAC said the strategy "can't come soon enough."
However, the plan faces significant criticism. Christopher Snowdon of the Institute of Economic Affairs argued that when Scotland lowered its limit in 2014, there was no proven reduction in accidents. "Drink-driving accidents typically involve people who are well over the limit," he said, suggesting better enforcement, not a lower limit, was the answer.
Conservative Shadow Transport Secretary Richard Holden echoed concerns about enforcement, highlighting other pressing dangers: "The real risks on Britain's roads are the lack of enforcement against drug-driving, uninsured and unlicensed drivers, and dangerous drivers."
What Happens Next?
This consultation marks the first potential change to the drink-drive limit since 1967. The government's stated aim is to enhance road safety and prevent avoidable deaths. The outcome of the public consultation will determine whether this historic tightening of the law goes ahead, fundamentally changing the rules for millions of drivers in England and Wales.
