N HILLEN asks how long it takes for alcohol effects to wear off ("Confusion over drink-drive limit", December 18).

The simple answer is the body gets rid of alcohol from the blood stream at a very slow rate - equivalent to about half a pint of beer or a single pub measure of spirits every hour. For people weighing less than 150 lbs and women they should be more caution about how much they drink.

The best advice is not to drink and drive. The current legal alcohol limit is 80mg/100ml of blood. For a driver with twice the legal limit of alcohol in the blood they are more than 30 times more likely to have an accident than one who has not been drinking.

At levels between 50mg/100ml (the suggested lower limit in a letter on December 14) and the current 80mg/100ml, drivers are two to four times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident.

In addition to considering introducing a new limit, the Government could consider a warning system. Drinks information leaflet for pubs, helping customers to know about a new limit and alcohol affects as body weight and gender have to be considered.

Colin Clarke,

The Crescent,

Stamford Bridge,

York.

Updated: 11:16 Tuesday, December 21, 2004