Councillor wants to relax drink driving limits to three pints to save rural pubs from closure

A County Galway vintners’ chief and County Councillor has advocated a review of the drink driving legislation which would allow customers to drink two or three pints and drive home safely.

The publican said that it was up to the individuals concerned but he felt happy that some people could drive home safely with three pints on them and that there were those that couldn’t.

But Timmy Broderick said that there was no way a person should lose their job or their livelihood if they were caught and prosecuted for drinking and driving.

The Kiltormer publican who is also PRO of the County Galway Vintners said that there was a distinct danger of rural villages being left without pubs if the current slide in trade continued.

His comments come after the revelation that tax increases imposed by the Government have resulted in one pub a day closing its doors in the country.

“Every person is different but there are some people that are capable of driving after having consumed three pints. The legislation with regard to drink driving has to be changed if pubs are to survive.

“At the moment the owners of rural pubs cannot make a living and they are opening at times that is reflective of the trade that they do.

“It might cost a couple to come out on a night and possibly spend €60 between them on a few drinks and a taxi home  but it is a lot safer than having a couple of bottles of whiskey which they could get for the same amount,” Timmy Broderick added.

The publican is also a member of Galway County Council and believes that the industry is over regulated when it came to taxation and legislation.

Cllr Broderick said that the pub was still the heart of every rural community but it was obvious that the Government were determined to close them down.

He agreed that the price of the pint was far too much but pointed out that this was due to taxes imposed by the Government. Cllr Broderick also said that when it came to legislation, the penalties for drinking and driving were much too excessive.

For full story see this week’s Connacht Tribune.