Drivers warned not to drink if they plan to drive as limit set to be slashed in England and Wales

The government has proposed cutting the legal breath alcohol limit in England and Wales from 35 to about 22 micrograms and urged people not to drink if they plan to drive; the strategy also proposes alcolocks for some offenders and new powers to suspend licences.

The government has announced plans to tighten the drink‑drive limit in England and Wales and has advised that people who plan to drive should avoid drinking alcohol. The move is part of a new road safety strategy, the first in more than a decade, which sets targets to reduce deaths and serious injuries on Britain’s roads by 65% by 2035 and by 70% for children under 16. The current legal breath alcohol limit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 35 micrograms per 100ml of breath; the strategy proposes reducing that to around 22 micrograms in England and Wales, aligning those nations with Scotland. The package also includes proposals for fitted alcolocks for some convicted drink‑drivers and new powers to suspend driving licences for people suspected of drink or drug‑driving offences. Key details: - The current legal breath alcohol limit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 35 micrograms per 100ml of breath; the strategy proposes reducing the limit to about 22 micrograms in England and Wales. - Transport minister Lilian Greenwood has urged people not to drink if they intend to drive and said leaving the car at home is an option when planning a night out. - The road safety strategy sets targets to reduce deaths and serious injuries by 65% by 2035 and by 70% for children under 16. - Officials said 260 people were killed last year in collisions attributed to drink driving, and there were 1,602 road deaths in 2024. - The proposals include requiring some convicted drink‑drivers to have alcolocks fitted; such devices prevent a vehicle being started unless the driver passes a breath test and are used in countries including Australia, Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands and the United States. - Other measures to be consulted on include mandatory sight tests once drivers reach 70, a minimum learning period for new drivers, and a crackdown on uninsured vehicles and illegal number plates. Summary: The government describes the package as a wider effort to refresh road safety policy after a slowdown in progress on reducing road deaths. Proposals such as lowering the breath alcohol limit, introducing alcolocks for some offenders and expanding licence powers will be subject to consultation and further decision-making.