John Key – Drink Driving Limit Dropped | Roast Busters

PM Press Conference – Drink Driving Limit Dropped | Roast Busters - 4 November 2013

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By Hamish Cardwell

Prime Minister John Key discussed new legislation to lower the legal alcohol limit while driving from 80 to 50 milligrams, his disgust at the “Roast Busters”, and was giving nothing away about the timing of the general election and royal visits in 2014.

At his weekly post-cabinet press conference in Wellington John Key and Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee announced legislation to lower the legal blood alcohol limit from 80 to 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood for drivers aged over 20.

Drivers caught with a blood alcohol reading of between 51 and 80 milligrams would receive a $200 fine and accrue 50 demerit points. Two offenses in a two year period would result a a three month licence suspension.

Mr Key said drivers would still be able to have a couple of drinks with dinner but it sent the message that the government was serious about alcohol-related matters.

“You can consume a lot of alcohol and be under the .08 level and we think that is dangerous.”

Mr Brownlee said he expected the bill to be before parliament by the end of the year, with the new rules coming into place next year.

In other matters Mr Key said as a parent he was disturbed by the actions of a group of Auckland teenagers who called themselves the “Roast Busters”, and filmed themselves having with with drunk underage girls and then posting it online.

He said is was “disgusting”.

The government's Harmful Digital Communications Bill would make it illegal to name the victims online as it would be classed as cyber bullying, he said.

Mr Key could not confirm if there would be a royal visit next year, but he would follow protocols around royal visits within three months of an election year.

If there was a visit scheduled within that period he would reach our for cross party support, he said.

ENDS

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