One pint of beer or a large glass of wine could make a person unfit to drive safely

One pint of beer or a large glass of wine could make a person unfit to drive safely, new research has revealed.

And scientists have called for the law to be changed to lower the legal limit of booze in the wake of their findings.

A study found relatively low amounts of drinking is enough to significantly compromise a person’s ability to function.

In England and Wales, the limit is 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood – around two pints of beer or a large wine.

But study author Dr Silvana De Pirro said of the results: “This begs the question: are current alcohol limits for driving truly safe? Our study presents a compelling case that even one pint of beer is enough to significantly compromise a person’s sense of agency [ability to function].”

A designated driver can't even have one drink (Getty)

One glass of wine is more than enough to put you over the limit (Getty)

Motoring organisations welcomed the findings.

AA president Edmund King said: “The best advice is… if you are going to drink, don’t drive, and if you are going to drive, don’t drink.”

Watch the devastating Drink Driving video

The study, by Sussex and Rome universities, is the first to test the effect of booze on sense of agency. Addiction expert Professor Aldo Badiani said: “All the participants were within the legal limit. Yet we saw an impairment in their feeling of being in control.

“In England, Wales and the US, the argument to lower the limit has momentum.

“The results of our study support the implementation of such a change in the law.”

The legal limit for driving in Scotland is 50mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood.