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SCMP Reporter

If a government proposal to tighten drink-driving laws comes into effect, drivers who have drunk more than two cans of beer or a small glass of wine within the previous hour will fail a breath test.

  The present law draws the line at a blood-alcohol limit of 80mg/100ml, which an average person can reach by drinking three to four cans of beer or three small glasses of wine within an hour.

   Under the proposed regulations, the blood-alcohol limit will be lowered to 50mg/100ml.

  If introduced, Hong Kong will join the ranks of those countries with the toughest drink-driving laws in the world.

   Statistics show Hong Kong has the highest percentage of alcohol-related road fatalities in Asia - 10 per cent more than the rest of the region. Sixty-six people were killed in drink-related accidents between December 1995 and June 1998. In addition, one in 10 night-time accidents is due to alcohol.

  Transport officials, the police and taxi associations have come out in support of this stringent new law.

  Deputy Secretary for Transport Alex Fong Chi-Wai, said the proposed tougher law was not aimed at stopping people from drinking. 'We're just tightening in line with international standards,' he said.

Judgment  A forensic medicine lecturer at Hong Kong University, Dr Philip Beh, said alcohol had an effect on a driver's judgment as well as neuromuscular controls.

  'The notion that blood alcohol level equates to the number of drinks is misleading. Other factors, such as how quickly the alcohol was taken, how long after the drink the person drives, as well as how much food was in the stomach, will affect immensely the amount of alcohol that can be taken and still be within the proposed new limit,' Dr Beh said.

   Drink-driving legislation was about the promotion of responsible road use and the protection of road users, he said. 'Drivers are not prevented from enjoying their drinks. They are asked to be responsible to themselves and others by not driving after they drink,' he said.

  However, critics have labelled the proposed law as too harsh and questioned how effective it would be in reducing the number of road accidents.

  James To Kun-sun of the Democratic Party said the new standard was arbitrary and not supported by medical evidence. 'If you need to tighten the law, then you need to have a good reason. What are the advantages that outweigh further restrictions on our freedom?' he asked at a Legislative Council debate on the bill.

  Several legislators noted that the example of two cans of beer and a small glass of wine was misleading as it was based on beer with an alcohol content of 2.5 per cent. Most beers on the market contain more than 4.5 per cent alcohol.

  'People will think two cans of beer are okay,' said Lau Kong- wah of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong.

  The Hong Kong Automobile Association has also questioned the effectiveness of the new law. 'Unless the Government has data to show that drink-driving is worsening, we don't see any reason to tighten the law,' said association secretary, Jackson Ho Yee-pak.

  Hong Kong introduced drink- driving laws in 1995. The number of drivers found to be above the limit fell from 6.5 per cent to four per cent since the Government introduced random breath-testing.

  Repeat drink-driving offences will cost drivers their licence for a maximum of two years.



Tough new law to curb drink-driving