The proposed changes, which were set out last month by Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill and would lower the alcohol limit from 80mg to 50mg in every 100ml of blood, are due to take effect from 5th December. According to reports, all members of the Justice Committee have recommended that the Parliament approve an order, which will bring the reduced limit into effect.

In response Alphabet warns that fleet managers will need to be more vigilant with licence checks.

The firm’s Diarmuid Fahy, manager, fleet risk services, said: ‘It’s great to see the Scottish government taking action to curb drink-driving by cutting the blood alcohol limit from 80mg to 50mg in every 100ml of blood.

‘If these plans are approved by the Scottish Parliament, drivers will need to be aware of the following points when driving in Scotland:

1. Whereas it was unlikely that one pint of beer or a glass of wine would have put a driver over the old drink-driving limit, drivers will now be likely to go over the limit with a single drink.
 
2. There will be an odd situation where a driver will be legal to drive on the English side of the border, but illegal when driving in Scotland.
 
3. There will be a greater chance of drivers being over the limit on the day after drinking.
 
4. This, combined with the plans in Northern Ireland to follow suit, makes it more likely that a 50mg limit will be adopted across the UK in the future.
 
5. All of the above points leads to an increased chance of drivers being banned.

‘Fleet managers will need to act on this if plans are approved, because you cannot run the risk of having banned drivers at the wheel of your vehicles. This offers a great opportunity to remind drivers of the risks associated with alcohol, ahead of the Christmas party season, including the risk of losing your job or even causing a fatality. 

‘Licence checks will become more important than ever due to the increased likelihood of people having a single drink at the pub and getting caught out with a breathalyser on the way home,’ he added.