Britain: Virtues of Sobriety

When British police last month began making curbside inspections with a "Breathalyser" that measures the alcohol imbibed by a motorist, cries of indignation rang out across the country. Last week the early results of the war on drinking drivers were in, and they were something to lift a glass to—at home. Accident rates on the road have fallen almost everywhere since B-day, in some places as much as 50%, and indications are that the official figures to be released early in December will bear out Transport Minister Barbara Castle's claim that the law will save at least 250 lives in its first year.

Of course, the pubs have paid a price. Hundreds of them reported a sharp drop in business, running in some cases to as much as 30% to 40%. Brewers reported an overall decline in sales of only 4% to 6%, indicating that much of the pubs' losses went to home consumption of alcohol. At Minister Castle's local pub, the Blue Flag at Cadmore End, Buckinghamshire, Publican Ron Hall announced: "I haven't stopped her coming in, but you could say that we're not the best of friends any more." Instead of easing off, British police intend to increase the number of checks, reaching the strictest level during the Christmas-holiday period.