Latest news and events

Lowering Drink Drive Limit Could Save Over 200 Lives A Year Lowering the drink drive limit is the most important element in the package of measures needed if the Labour Government wishes to crown the road safety success begun by a previous Labour Government under Barbara Castle. The beneficial effect on road fatalities of reducing… Read more »

The IAS Welcomes New Drink Drive Proposals The Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS) today welcomed the Government’s proposals to combat drink driving, especially the lowering of the limit to 50mg, in the White Paper ‘Combating Drink-Driving – Next Steps’. Speaking for the IAS, Derek Rutherford said, “It is 30 years since the 80 mgs limit… Read more »

UK Presidency of the Council of Ministers gives Britain the opportunity to introduce a 50mg limit. A reduction in the Drink Drive limit to 50 mgs could save between 100 and 300 lives a year. Lowering the limit affects drivers at all blood alcohol levels and therefore is one of the most effective measures for… Read more »

Barbara Castle’s Social Revolution – May Have Saved Over 62,000 Lives “Everyone has cause to be grateful for the courage of Barbara Castle who pioneered the greatest life saving Act in road safety which may have prevented over 62,000 people from being killed on our roads – equivalent to an average MP’s constituency – over… Read more »

Luncheon to honour the Rt Hon Baroness Castle and the 30th Anniversary of the introduction of the breath test To mark the 30th anniversary of the introduction of the breath test, a luncheon to honour Baroness Castle will be held at the Law Society on the 9th of October 1997 at 12.30pm (invitation only). The… Read more »

George Howarth Serves up a ‘Bucks Fizz’ “George Howarth, Home Office Minister, has served a bucks fizz with his measures to deal with alcopops”, says Derek Rutherford commenting on today’s announcement. Whilst we welcome measures which help to enforce the law to curb under age drinking and protect minors, we believe that the proof of… Read more »

Missed opportunity to curb underage drinking The Institute of Alcohol Studies expressed disappointment at the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s refusal to hike the tax on ‘alcopops’ in today’s budget speech. In a statement, IAS Director Derek Rutherford said that the Chancellor had declined an opportunity to tackle a serious and growing problem. The public were… Read more »

Alcohol-related death & disability ranks in world order with measles, tuberculosis and malaria Alcohol causes three to four per cent of global death and disability putting it on a level with measles, tuberculosis and malaria and is five times more severe than illegal drugs in terms of impact on global health. These facts will be… Read more »

The ‘Alcopops’ Scandal The drinks industry has behaved so cynically and irresponsibly in promoting ‘alcopops’ despite or perhaps because of their attraction to children and young people that it cannot be left to regulate itself, said Derek Rutherford, director of the IAS. Derek Rutherford was speaking in support of the Daily Express’ initiative to seek… Read more »

Drink drive cases up over Christmas – IAS Comment The 18 per cent increase in the number of motorists caught drinking and driving over the Christmas and New Year period, and the 4 per cent increase in the number of alcohol related road accidents, provides further evidence that the anti-drink drive campaign is floundering and… Read more »