Labour has announced plans to cut the drink-driving limits for the first time since 1969 in a bid to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries across the country.
As part of the Government's new Road Safety Strategy, drivers across England, Northern Ireland and Wales will soon see tougher drink-driving limits.
At present, the legal limit of alcohol is 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath in England, Northern Ireland and Wales, with a desire for this to drop to 22 micrograms.
Scotland already has the far lower limit at 22 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath, following years of campaigning from road safety experts.
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Northern Ireland is already planning to reduce its limits in line with Scotland, as well as lowering the limit to nine micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath for professional and novice drivers.
Experts have criticised drink-driving laws in recent years, since England, Northern Ireland and Wales have the joint-highest limits in Europe, alongside Malta.
In 2023, a staggering one in six road fatalities involved drink-driving, with the Government and road safety experts calling for changes to be made to make travel less dangerous.
Government estimates suggest that lowering the drink-drive limit could slash the number of fatalities annually by between 25 and 100.
Motorists will see new drink-driving rules introduced in the near future
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The Road Safety Strategy outlines plans to introduce powers to suspend licences from those suspected of committing a drink or drug-driving offence until court, as well as those under investigation for the most serious motoring offences.
Local Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood stated that cutting the drink-driving limit was not designed to "stop a great night out" for millions of people across the UK.
Experts have noted that one strong pint of beer could put them over the legal limit, with rural drivers particularly worried as they may need to travel longer distances to their local pub.
She said: "What we're just saying is don't take your car. So that might mean that, you know, some places you'll be able to take a bus or a taxi.
"In other places, you're going out with a group of mates, one of you agrees to be the designated driver."
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She noted that the vast majority of the most popular alcohol brands around the world now have an alcohol-free alternative.
The new Road Safety Strategy suggests that motorists should face tougher penalties if they are caught breaking drink-driving limits.
It also questions whether alcolocks, which prevent a vehicle from being started if the motorist fails a breath test, should be installed in cars of repeat offenders.
Ms Greenwood, who represents Nottingham South for Labour, added that there was not a "significant impact" on pubs when Scotland cut its drink-drive limit in 2014.
Motorists could soon have their licence suspended if they are believed to have caused injury or death while under the influence
| GETTYThis comes after the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) warned that rural pubs around the country could be impacted by the new drink-driving rules.
The trade body called on the Government to only move forward with the rules if they ensure plans are "proportionate and evidence-based".
A spokesperson for the group said: "We would urge Government to consider how to mitigate the significant impact further restrictions would have for pubs, jobs, and community hubs in rural areas, which may already suffer from little to no public transport.
"We would also urge the Government to review how public transport, especially in rural areas, can better support the high street and local tourism, ultimately strengthening local communities and economies."