The risk of a fatal accident increases by 10 times when a person’s blood alcohol level remains within the legal limit, a study, quoted by Transport Malta at the launch of a drink-driving campaign, shows.

Yet, 7.7 per cent of respondents in the 2008 health interview survey admitted they drove when they knew they had drunk too much, health promotion director Charmaine Gauci said at the launch of the campaign on Wednesday.

Health Minister Joe Cassar cautioned the legal blood alcohol limit, which stands at 80 mg/dL of blood, did not equate to units of alcohol as different people metabolised alcohol differently.

“Even paracetamol can raise the level of alcohol in the blood,” he said, emphasising that, when speaking about drink-driving, he was not talking about getting drunk (or “patata” as the Maltese put it) but even when people felt fine, the alcohol would have had an effect.

Agreeing, Dr Gauci said alcohol gave people a sense of overconfidence, which worked against them when driving.

Reaction time, tracking, coordination and concentration were affected early when someone had taken a drink, she said.

“Moreover, other substances, like energy drinks, fruit juices and hash work synergistically with alcohol and add to its effects,” Dr Cassar said.

Unlike previous years, no promotional material such as posters were released, except a radio clip that will be aired throughout the festive season.

Speaking at the event, Sedqa clinical director George Grech emphasised the importance of not mixing substances such as energy drinks and fruit juices with alcohol, while renewing the call on the government to allow breathalyser tests to be carried out at roadblocks.

When asked about his stand on the subject, Dr Cassar said legislation on breathalysers was not within his ministry’s jurisdiction. “However, if you want my personal opinion, I agree that breathalyser tests should be carried out randomly,” he said.

The police had one breathalyser set in every district and two in the mobile squad, Assistant Police Commissioner Joseph Brincat said.

Although he agreed that the law – which only allows policemen to carry out a test when they “reasonably suspect” a person is drunk – should change but pointed out there was nothing preventing officers from stopping a driver at any time to ask for his driving documents. If during such procedure the police officer picked up subtle signs of alcohol consumption, it would be his duty to carry out a test, he said.

The penalty for first-time drink-driving offenders stands at €1,200 and up to three months imprisonment.

Mr Brincat appealed to new drivers to keep off the roads during the festive period because of the increased risk of other drunk, dangerous drivers.

Giving a view of the situation on the ground, Civil Protection Department head Patrick Murgo said drink-driving accidents did not only happen around Christmas but every weekend.

He pointed out that the problem mainly affected youngsters, who allowed one night to change their lives completely.

Emergency Department consultant Michael Spiteri said, with a hint of distress in his voice, he would be heading the casualty team on Christmas Eve. “If all this advice falls on deaf ears, you will see me. I am the last stop and I hope to see none of you,” he said.

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