'Let rural Irish drink and drive'

File photo.

File photo.

Published Jan 24, 2013

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A second Irish county is considering a controversial proposal that would make it easier for people to drink and drive.

Galway council will look at introducing exemptions for residents in rural areas so they can drink more and still drive home from the pub. It follows a proposal passed by councillors in Kerry that will let some drivers have “two or three drinks.”

“We don’t want to see people drunk, we’re only talking about up to three pints,” said Galway councillor Michael Fahy.

“This would have to be monitored, maybe by the publican or through some sort of stamped card system.”

The idea was proposed by publican Danny Healey-Rae, who claimed it would help older people isolated at home to cope with depression. It has provoked criticism from across Ireland, where around a third of car-crash deaths are alcohol-related. -Daily Mail

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