‘New drink-drive limit killing Scottish pubs’

The reaction has come in the wake of The Bank of Scotland’s chief economist this week revealing that the lower limit has stunted the industry’s growth.

The bank’s latest quarterly business monitor published has revealed that 33 per cent of more than 400 licensed businesses suffered a fall in turnover since the new legislation, with 34 per cent reporting no change and 33 per cent seeing trade pick up.

The bank’s finance expert Professor Donald MacRae (pictured) said: “I have been speaking at a lot of conferences and seminars. I am getting some information now that some of the fall in turnover is down to the reduced alcohol limit while driving.

“It is concentrated in travel, tourism and leisure. It is particularly linked to hotels and catering and it is also having most affect in rural areas.

“There has been a reduction in the number of people going out for a meal. If they do go out for a meal, there is one who doesn’t drink at all.”

While the higher legal alcohol limit of 80mg in every 100ml of blood remains in England and Wales, Holyrood used devolved powers to lower it to 50mg, bringing Scotland into line with many countries in Europe.

Police say fewer people are drink driving since the law change and campaigners say no price can be put on saving lives.

But pub landlords say they were not properly consulted on how the new law would affect their trade.

A Government consultation in 2012 highlighted fears about the effect on pubs in Scotland – but when MSPs held an inquiry on the proposal at Holyrood, no one from the licensed trade was invited. Members of the Justice Committee only questioned a police chief inspector, an academic and a road safety campaigner.

Industry leaders are now saying that the move taken above their heads, without their input, is destroying businesses, costing people their jobs and driving tourists away.

Since the new limit came in on December 5, Scottish Licensed Trade Association president Michael McHugh says he has had to cut staff hours and take on more work himself to keep his bar, The Station in Glasgow, in business.

He said: “We’ve all been left stunned by the lack of consultation with the trade on the impact this could have.

“The Government never presented any evidence that there was a big problem between 50mg and 80mg – because there wasn’t any.

“The new limit has hit us badly. It killed the festive season due to the campaign of terror on the TV.

“Everybody panicked.

“I really think it was diabolical shame that the Scottish Government didn’t look at the knock-on effects – or the tidal wave that has hit the industry now.

“We had guys coming in at a lunchtime for a pint and a pie and they just don’t bother now. We are seeing a downturn in trade during the week and an impact on the weekend.

“People have stopped coming out on a Sunday because they’re working the Monday morning. Food sales are down because people are not coming in.

“We’re looking at jobs and where we can cut back and a lot of places are thinking the same way.

“We’ve cut hours and tried to keep staff on but we are doing more than before as owners because we can’t afford to pay people now.

“In rural communities, the pub was the biggest focal point and employer in the village.

“The change will just increase home drinking, feeding the supermarkets and costing the country in lost VAT. I know of a village pub with five staff which has just shut down – he said it was just the final straw.

“This has been a paper exercise to make the Scottish Government look good because Westminster gave them something else to play with.

“The bravest thing the Government could do is say they have made a mistake, change it back and look at other penalties.”

Conservative transport spokesman Alex Johnstone MSP said: “The Scottish licensed trade have already suffered from the smoking ban and it’s not surprising that they are feeling the pressure now.

“We’d encourage people to keep on supporting their local pubs. More can be done by local authorities and Government through promoting designated driver schemes.”

Police Scotland’s festive crackdown revealed a 19 per cent reduction in drink driving compared to 2013.

Neil Greig, of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, said: “The general feeling in road safety circles is that this has been a success.

“The vast majority of drivers got the message that you can’t take alcohol and drive any more.

“You have to remember that fatal accidents cost the Scottish economy about £1.5million each, so if you can prevent even a couple of deaths on the road then you can save millions.”

A Holyrood spokesman said: “The decrease in drink-drive detections during the festive campaign is testament to the immediate effect of the new limit.

“If people act responsibly, for example by nominating a designed driver, this will help mitigate any impact on trade.

“We are determined to end the tragedy of deaths caused by drink driving and if this new law saves one life, it will be a success.”