Majority of Scots support lowering the drink drive limit
On the day that MSPs debate proposals to lower drink drive limits in Scotland, our poll reveals that a majority of the public support a reduction of those limits.
On the day that MSPs debate proposals to lower drink drive limits in Scotland, our poll reveals that a majority of the public support a reduction of those limits.
Under new powers transferred from Westminster to Holyrood, the Scottish Government is proposing lowering the blood/alcohol from 80mg/100ml to 50mg/100m and a public consultation on the issue is currently underway.
Seven in ten Scots agree that drink drive limits should be reduced, with 55% strongly agreeing that this should happen. Around a quarter (26%) disagree that limits should be lowered.
Support for a reduction in the limit is strongest among those aged 55 or over (73%) while those aged 18-24 are most likely to oppose the move (32%). Significantly, people living in rural parts of Scotland are more likely to support moves to lower the limit, with 75% in favour.
It is also noteworthy that this is an issue which is polarising to some extent, since three quarters of respondents expressed a view at one of the two extremes, either strongly agreeing (55%) or strongly disagreeing (20%).
Mark Diffley, Research Director with Ipsos said:
“The Scottish Government has signalled its intention to lower the drink drive limit and the public is broadly supportive of such moves. Although younger people are more likely to oppose the measure, it is clear that any reduction will enjoy the support of all groups and will be a largely popular policy.”Technical details:
- Results are based on a survey of 1,003 respondents conducted by telephone
- Fieldwork dates: 8th October – 15th October 2012
- Data are weight by: age, sex and working status using census data; tenure using SHS data; and public-private sector employment using Scottish Government Quarterly Public Sector Employment series data
- Where results do not sum to 100%, this may be due to computer rounding, multiple responses, or the exclusion of “don’t know” categories
- Results are based on all respondents (1,003) unless otherwise stated
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