THE Government has been told by its own drug advisers to cut the alcohol limit for young drivers to curb the growing numbers of drink-drive deaths on Britain’s roads.

The influential Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs demanded that the limit be reduced from 80mg to 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood for those aged under 25, because they are more likely to be involved in fatal drink-drive crashes than older drivers. It said that Britain’s youngsters are some of the worst abusers of drink and drugs in Europe.

The Government was resisting the demand last night, but pressure is likely to grow as concern mounts about the rising toll of Britain’s binge-drinking culture. Road-safety groups yesterday backed the call to cut the legal alcohol limit.

Drink-drive deaths are at their highest since 1992, claiming 590 lives last year. The death rate among young drivers has doubled in the past five years, despite general improvements in road safety.

The advisory council, which is appointed by the Home Office, also called for alcohol advertising to be banned on TV and at most cinemas, as part of a general crackdown on binge-drinking. The ban would be similar to that on tobacco in 2003, and would also bar brewers from sponsoring sports and music events.

After a three-year study, it also told the Government to “seriously consider” raising tax on alcohol, and to raise the legal smoking age from 16 to 18.

The report, Pathways to Problems, declared: “Drivers under the age of 25 are more likely than older drivers to have road accidents and to fail alcohol tests when involved in accidents. Given the poorer driving skills and higher accident rates among inexperienced young drivers, we recommend that the Government should give consideration to reducing the maximum blood-alcohol rate.”

It concluded that if this lower limit proved successful, it should be extended to all drivers. Britain has one of the highest alcohol limits in Europe.

A spokesman for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents backed calls for a reduction in the alcohol limit, but said it should apply to all ages. A spokesman said: “Studies show that cutting the limit to 50 milligrams would save 65 lives and 230 serious injuries a year.”

He added that drivers with between 50 and 80mg of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood were two to two and a half times more likely to be involved in an accident, and six times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash, than someone who was sober.

However, Stephen Ladyman, the Road Safety Minister, said that the current limit was adequate: “The Government has no plans to change the drink-drive blood-alcohol limit for young drivers or anyone else. We continue to believe that education, robust enforcement and tough penalties are the most effective ways of persuading people.”

The Government appeared to be more receptive to a clampdown on alcohol advertising. A spokeswoman for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport said that the rules were tightened last year, but added: “This report is something we will look at and take on board.” She said that the council’s report would also be considered by Ofcom, the broadcasting watchdog, and the Advertising Standards Agency.

Such a ban would inevitably spark a battle of wills with brewers. The council said: “The alcohol industry spends about £200 million annually on promoting a very misleading picture of the realities of alcohol consumption. Given the continuing rise in the prevalence of alcohol-related health problems and the high levels of drinking among young people, we recommend that a much stricter code for alcohol advertising (including via the internet) and sponsorship should be established.”

The report highlights the seriousness of drink, drug and alcohol abuse among teenagers. Alcohol use has grown most among the young in recent years, particularly among girls. In the past ten years, the proportion of women drinking more than twice the recommended weekly limit had doubled.

Up to half of 15-year-olds are drinking alcohol at least once a week, and 20 to 25 per cent have used illegal drugs in the past month. About 20 to 25 per cent of 15-year-olds are regular smokers. Girls outnumber boys.

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