Motorists across England and Wales are being urged to take note of a significant change to drink-driving laws, set to be introduced before the end of 2026. The proposed rules will dramatically lower the legal alcohol limit for drivers, bringing it in line with Scotland.
What are the new drink-drive limits?
The planned legislation will see the breath alcohol limit slashed from 35 micrograms (µg) to 22µg per 100ml of breath. In parallel, the blood alcohol limit will be cut from 80mg to 50mg per 100ml of blood.
This substantial reduction means that, in practice, drivers could be limited to consuming roughly just one pint of beer or a small glass of wine before they are considered over the legal limit. Experts caution that some individuals may even exceed the threshold on less alcohol, potentially doing so "without realising".
Expert insight and road safety goals
Rhydian Jones, a motoring expert at Confused.com, highlighted a concerning gap between public perception and the proposed law. "Our research shows UK drivers feel comfortable driving after 2 drinks," he told Express.co.uk. "Yet, this new proposal aims to help improve road safety by reducing the limit."
He added that the stricter rules would "add another layer of protection to drivers and pedestrians alike." The government's primary motivation is a stark one: to save lives. It is predicted that lowering the drink-drive limit could prevent between 25 and 100 fatalities each year.
The urgent need for action
The push for change is backed by sobering statistics. In a Department for Transport consultation report, Labour MP Lilian Greenwood stated: "In 2024, there were 1,602 deaths on our roads – an average of around 30 a week, or 4 to 5 per day. There were also 27,865 serious injuries."
While acknowledging the UK has some of the world's safest roads, Greenwood emphasised that "these figures remain far too high." With road death numbers having plateaued since 2010, she argued that "strong, decisive action is long overdue."
The upcoming change marks a pivotal shift in England and Wales's approach to drink-driving, placing a greater onus on drivers to understand how even a single drink could now have serious legal and safety consequences.
