Cut to Scottish drink-drive limit ‘held back by Westminster delays’

A cross-border row has emerged in the middle of the festive drink-driving crackdown over the timescale for cutting the legal alcohol limit in Scotland to less than a pint of lager.

The SNP says the Scottish Government’s pledge to cut the alcohol limit by more than a third to 50mg per 100ml of blood is being “held back by Westminster delays” but the Home Office insists it is “not responsible for any delay”.

Scotland was handed the power to set drink-driving limits in the Scotland Act 2012 but the power to recalibrate the breathalysers remains with Westminster.

Cross-border discussions are under way to ensure breathalysers are configured to enforce the new limit. The SNP has now called for the immediate devolution of all drink-driving legislation to Scotland.