New proposals by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Alcohol Misuse, will recommend tighter regulations on the drink driving limit.

Currently, the drink drive limit is 80 milligrams of alcohol to 100 millilitres of blood and, if prosecuted, drivers face up to six months in prison, a £5,000 fine and a 12 month driving ban. Under the new proposals, the drink drive limit will be reduced to 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. It will initially apply to drivers under the age of 21.

New drug driving conditions were also proposed earlier in August, aimed at helping to ensure the safety of Britain’s roads by making it easier to prosecute drug drivers through roadside testing and more severe punishments for those caught offending.

This month has also seen new health regulations introduced on the labelling of alcohol, proposed by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Alcohol Misuse, in an attempt to minimise alcohol-related problems, which cost the UK an estimated £21 billion last year. In a similar fashion to tobacco products, alcohol will come with health warnings as part of the packaging, as well as calorific content.

Thompsons Solicitors’ road traffic accident and serious injury specialist, David Robinson, said: “Drink driving costs hundreds of lives every year.

“The effects of alcohol are immeasurable and affect each and every individual differently. Anyone who chooses to drive under the influence of alcohol is risking their lives and the lives of other road users.

“At Thompsons, we have represented a number of clients who have been injured by a drink driver, and we understand first-hand the devastating impact they have on the victims and their loved ones.

“The suggested proposals are a step in the right direction but there is still much more that can be done, including harsher penalties for drink drivers and introducing the proposed revised drink driving limits for people of all ages.”