A NEW law has come into force today (Dec 5) which makes the legal drink-drive limit in Scotland lower than anywhere else in the UK.
The change cuts the legal alcohol limit from 80mg to 50mg in every 100ml of blood.
The limit elsewhere in the UK will remain at 80mg - the joint highest in Europe, reported the BBC.
Northern Ireland is also currently considering making the same reduction as Scotland.
However, the UK government said it had no plans to reduce the drink drive limit in England and Wales as it said this would have no impact on "high risk offenders".
Brake’s deputy chief executive, Julie Townsend, said: “As a charity that supports bereaved and injured road crash victims, we witness the suffering that drink and drug-driving inflict, and appeal to everyone to help put a stop to it.
“Drink and drug-driving deaths and injuries are cruel and needless, ending and ruining lives and leaving traumatised families to pick up the pieces."
She added: “We welcome the new lower limit in Scotland as a positive stepping stone towards zero-tolerance.
"We have the highest drink-drive limit in Europe, sending out the dreadful message that a drink or two before driving is acceptable. The evidence shows that a tough approach helps prevent casualties.”
Experts have said the new 50mg limit, which came into force at midnight, means that an average man would be limited to just under a pint of beer or a large glass of wine, and women to half a pint of beer or a small glass of wine.