SBPA slams zero tolerance drink-drive poll

August 10, 2007: The Scottish Beer and Pub Association (SBPA) has dismissed as "irrelevant" an opinion poll published by the Scottish Road Safety Group and the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland which suggested that five out of six Scots supported a reduction in the alcohol drink-drive limit to
zero.

The poll of 7,000 people was collated from a web-based survey which people were directed to by Scottish Executive advertisements promoting the police's summer anti-drink-drive campaign, says the SBPA.

During the campaign Scottish police used their existing powers to breath test
every motorist they stopped for committing a moving traffic offence.

Said Patrick Browne, Chief Executive of the Scottish Beer and Pub
Association which represents 1,500 of Scotland's 5,100 pubs: "Scotland's
licensed industry is always prepared to look at evidence-based initiatives
around tackling the problems caused by alcohol misuse, but this 'poll'
doesn't add anything to that debate given that it was totally self-selecting
and respondees were apparently directed to the survey by following
advertising links promoting an anti-drink driving campaign," said Patrick Brown, SBPA chief executive.

"The prime issue is enforcement associated, if necessary, with random testing. The real offenders are over the existing limit and we should be tackling them more effectively."

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