The introduction of a lower legal blood alcohol limit is being welcomed by a Tauranga Safe City coordinator who believes the new law will catch many unsuspecting drink drivers out.

The Government announced last night it has approved lowering the blood alcohol limit from 80 to 50milligrams of alcohol per 100millilitres of blood for drivers over 20 years old, with the legislation set to have its first reading in Parliament before Christmas.

The Government has agreed to lower the blood alcohol limit – bringing it in line with drink driving laws in Australia and America.

Tauranga Safe City coordinator Mike Mills says anything that reduces drivers' blood alcohol levels on the road has to be a good thing.

'That's the bottom line.”

He says no one should be surprised by the announcement, and while it may come as a burden to some older residents, it is another step in the right direction.

'To be honest, I think for Tauranga residents, for older folk like myself, it will be an annoyance. I am of a generation that would routinely drink and drive with relative impunity, almost like it was a right.

'By introducing a lower limit for adults, it's basically coming back to the same thing. It's getting to the point now where it's not even worth the risk. Get it into your thinking – you don't drink and drive.”

Data collected by police during the last 22 months shows 53 drivers were involved in fatal and serious injury crashes with blood alcohol readings of between 51 and 80milligrams per 100millilitres of blood across the country.

Drivers testing positive for the new lower limit will receive a $200 fine and gain 50 demerit points. Testing positive to over 80 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood while in charge of a motor vehicle will remain a criminal offence.

'This is a significant change and people are going to get caught out.

'It will cause people to rethink. There will be a few surprised and shocked people when they realise they are over the limit but feel stone cold sober.”

Mike says lowering the limit is the next step following the zero alcohol tolerance introduced for under 20-year-olds.

'If you think about what they did with the young people, they used to have a 20 limit for people under the age of 20, and it didn't work because no one really knew whether it was - one drink, two drinks or three drinks.”

Mike says given the momentum now, starting with the young people and moving to a 50 threshold for the next level, it's reinforcing the message that drinking and driving simply do not mix.

'I think it's a really important message to get through,” says Mike.

'I think it's not being done in a particularly draconian way, there may be people who think there should be the same penalties for 50 as there are at 80, but I think by introducing a graduated step it's still sending a message loud and clear.”

Mike says the law change will definitely make him think about having one beer and a glass of water, instead of a couple of beers.

'I don't want to put myself in a compromised situation. It's going to cause a lot of people to have a rethink and a lot of people will be caught out.

'I welcome it, there is a lot of evidence supporting that blood alcohol levels has a significant effect on the road tolls internationally. It's been requested and it's now being delivered.”

The law change follows a two year review of the impact of lowering the legal blood alcohol limit by 30 milligrams, which suggests 3.4 lives will be saved a year and 64 injury-causing crashes avoided. This would save $200million in social costs over 10 years, says Transportation Minister Gerry Brownlee.

What do you think of the change? Do you think it will make a difference? Let us know your thoughts – email newsroom@thesun.co.nz