Editorial: Here's to success of our new drink limit

The police this week released provisional data showing low numbers of drink-driving infringements. Photo / File

The Government took a long time to be convinced it should reduce the alcohol limit for driving. It argued that few fatalities were being caused by drivers with alcohol levels between the legal limit and the lower one recommended by just about all its official advisers.

It believed the law was settled and accepted, even when this newspaper and others published tests showing the old limit allowed many more than the two or three drinks most people supposed.

National appeared to fear a voter backlash despite every opinion poll on the subject showing large majorities favoured enforcing a limit the Herald on Sunday's campaign labelled "two drinks max".

It was not until last year, its fifth year of office, that the Government decided to change the law and it took until July this year, just before Parliament rose for the election, for the change to be made.

It took effect on December 1 and already, in less than two weeks, it appears to be well accepted and highly effective.

The police this week released provisional data showing low numbers of drink-driving infringements. National road policing manager Superintendent Carey Griffiths said anecdotal feedback to date "indicates most people are on board and supportive of the changes".

Many out and about this festive season might have noticed it, too. People are conscious the lower limit has come into force and are drinking carefully.

Although the alcohol people can absorb within the legal limit varies depending on gender and body mass, the operable rule really has become two drinks max. After that, drinkers need to let some time elapse. Generally, they seem to be deciding two will do if they intend to drive.

For those who decide to drink more and get a taxi home, our edition today carries a warning. The lower limit means they may not be able to drive legally in the morning. Clinical toxicologist Paul Quigley says under the lower limit, alcohol in the breath and blood of heavy drinkers will take an hour or two longer to drop.

Christmas parties that run into the early hours of a weekday morning may leave people still over the limit after a good sleep and liable to be caught driving to work. That could test the public acceptance of the new limit but so far, the law's reception is remarkably good.

So good, the Government might have been more courageous. Some of its advice has been for reducing the permitted level lower than 50mg per 100ml of blood, and long ago it imposed zero tolerance on drivers under 20. It could have been tougher on everybody. Common sense is saying drive sober and stay safe.