Ministers are planning to lower the drink drive limit by a half, according to reports.
A report on driving under the influence of drink and drugs has been submitted to the Department for Transport by Sir Peter North, an academic and Government adviser.
It was commissioned last December when Labour was in power, but is now being studied by Tory Transport Secretary Philip Hammond.
Under the plans, the limit would fall from 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood to 50mg. Anyone caught above the new limit would face an automatic 12-month driving ban, even if they were only marginally over the threshold.
Some estimates suggest that a single glass of wine or pint of strong beer can leave some people — and especially women — with a blood-alcohol level above 50mg.
However, Sir Peter is said to have advised that a 50mg rule would still allow many people to consume two drinks without exceeding the limit.
The idea of a lower limit has been backed by members of the AA and the British Medical Association.
However, the Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations, which represents pub landlords, opposed the move, suggesting it could lessen the stigma attached to a drink-driving conviction.
The Department for Transport declined to comment on the detail of Sir Peter's recommendations.
A spokeswoman said: "We need to tackle drink driving in the most effective way possible to protect law-abiding motorists.
"We are considering Sir Peter's report carefully and will respond in due course."
