The classic romantic date is in danger of disappearing if the federal government reduces the legal alcohol limit for licensed drivers, a spokesman for Quebec鈥檚 restaurant lobby said Tuesday.
Francois Meunier said if Ottawa passes such a law, it would be a disaster for the restaurant industry 鈥� and for lovers.
鈥淭he (change would) mean a woman can have one drink and a man, in most cases, two,鈥� Meunier said. 鈥淔orget about a bottle of wine for two, for a Valentine鈥檚 Day dinner 鈥� that鈥檚 over.鈥�
In a letter to provincial and territorial justice ministers dated last May, federal Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould suggested lowering the limit to 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood from the current 80 milligrams.
The minister said the change would 鈥渕ake it easier to fight the danger posed by drivers who have consumed alcohol.鈥�
Meunier, who works for an association that represents restaurateurs in Quebec, said his members are less worried about losing alcohol sales and more concerned with seeing a significant drop in total revenues, as people choose to stay home.
鈥淚t鈥檚 about food sales that go with the alcohol,鈥� he said.
鈥淲hen it comes to celebrations, parties, all that will be done at home as people change their behaviour. It鈥檚 easy to talk about taking a taxi or public transportation, but in the (outlying) regions it鈥檚 not as easy.鈥�
Wilson-Raybould responded to the reaction to her letter through a spokesperson on Tuesday.
鈥淚 believe that lowering the federal limit to 50mg would better respond to the danger posed by impaired drivers, by sending a strong message through the criminal law and changing drivers鈥� behaviour,鈥� Wilson-Raybould said.
鈥淚 have therefore sought the input of my provincial counterparts, in order to solicit their views. At this stage, no decision has been made.鈥�
She said the current rules were established after research indicated the risk of being involved in a car crash was twice as likely when a driver has 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood in his or her system.
鈥淢ore recent research indicates that this data underestimated the fatal crash risk,鈥� she said Tuesday. 鈥滻n fact, the risk is almost double at 50mg, almost triple at 80mg, and rises exponentially above that level.鈥�
In her letter to her provincial and territorial counterparts, Wilson-Raybould cited Ireland as a case study in the dissuasive effect a reduction in blood/alcohol limit levels can have.
鈥淭he reduction to 50 milligrams of alcohol (per 100 millilitres of blood), combined with obligatory testing for alcohol, produced a 50 per cent reduction in deadly road accidents,鈥� she wrote, 鈥漚nd a reduction of about 65 per cent in the number of (criminal) charges.鈥�
Quebec is the only jurisdiction in Canada that has no sanctions in place for drivers who register a blood/alcohol level of more than 50 milligrams. The province tried twice to impose penalties for such drivers, but failed.
Last spring, at the same time the federal government tabled legislation to legalize marijuana, it also introduced a bill increasing penalties for drivers caught under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Bill C-46 allows police to demand drivers submit to a breathalyzer even if they don鈥檛 suspect they are under the influence.
Peter Sergakis, the head of an association representing bar owners, said the government should focus on stopping repeat drunk drivers, not penalizing responsible adults.
鈥淧olice are only applying the current laws during the holiday season,鈥� he said.
Sergakis said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is not being consistent in his approach.
鈥淭rudeau wants to legalize marijuana 鈥� he wants to get everyone high,鈥� said the bar owner. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a double standard. He wants to get everyone high but prevent them from drinking. Where is the logic?鈥�
Melanie Marquis and Giuseppe Valiante, The Canadian Press
