Scotland’s Justice Secretary Kenny McAskill has put a dampener on Scotland’s upcoming Christmas and New Year celebrations by promising to cut the country’s drink-drive limit on 5 December. I’m sure all Scots will welcome him throwing a dark blanket of prohibitionist gloom over them.
I’ve written on this before, and there’s not much more I can add. The idea that English drivers could be banned from driving in England for doing something in Scotland that is entirely legal south of the Border is utterly disgraceful. And I continue to believe that this is essentially an anti-drink and anti-pub measure, not a road safety one.
The Scottish pub scene is distinctively different, and the country doesn’t really have the characterful rural and village pubs that are such a distinctive feature of England. However, this move will have a negative effect across the whole pub trade, and inevitably lead to renewed calls for a limit cut south of the Border.
And I don’t believe it will save a single life.
Absolutely agree. The problem is with people who drink way over the so-called drink drive limit. It's not those who have a glass or possibly two of wine and drive later in the day. People shouldn't drink and drive, but this proposed measure targets the wrong people.
ReplyDeleteI ask the following question not to be facetious but genuinely not knowing the answer. If I get a driving ban in France, does that ban apply across the EU including England?
ReplyDeleteMy question is related to a technicality of law. We are EU citizens, whether we like it or not. Therefore I would expect the legal rights of an EU citizen to apply in Scotland as in France.
I agree. And also there is a degree of misinformation. One pint will put you over the limit? Well, perhaps, if you are a flyweight and down it in five minutes and jump into your car five minutes later. For most people, not so. I predict unfortunately a lot of people thinking they can't have a couple of drinks of an evening, not even because they need to drive then but because they will be driving the next day.
ReplyDeleteA bit of info I found: not information that any government or health agencies here wish you to read, it seems (note that one drink here is roughly 1.5 units (eg a bottle of Bud) so a standard 4% abv pint is around 1.5 drinks):
http://www.brown.edu/Student_Services/Health_Services/Health_Education/alcohol,_tobacco,_&_other_drugs/alcohol/alcohol_&_your_body.php#3
http://adcaps.wsu.edu/alcohol101/blood-alcohol-chart/
A driving ban is a driving as I understand it.
ReplyDeleteAlso research shows tiredness, using a mobile phone, some prescribed drugs, fiddling with a car radio and legal highs are all more dangerous than a glass of wine. People shouldn't drink and drive but the proposals attack the wrong thing.
A driving ban is a driving as I understand it.
ReplyDeleteAlso research shows tiredness, using a mobile phone, some prescribed drugs, fiddling with a car radio and legal highs are all more dangerous than a glass of wine. People shouldn't drink and drive but the proposals attack the wrong thing.
How can a free democracy allow a law which leaves any police officer to decide who he stops,who he breathalyses,and who
ReplyDeletecould lose their license and their job. Why are the vast majority of "offences" committed
between 11 pm and 2 am yet we all know there are far more drunk drivers on the road 5pm to 8pm and 6am to 9am. Why are there so very few drug related bans.
Alas the cowardly pub trade will
remain silent as another stake is driven into the heart of the English Pub.
Taverner
As the average pub in Scotland is a cold,unwelcoming shit-hole I can't see why anyone would want to drink more than one pint of crap beer anyway.
ReplyDelete