Irish MP believes alcohol could help nervous drivers

An MP from Ireland’s governing party, Fianna Fail, has sparked outrage after saying that nervous drivers may benefit from drinking an alcoholic drink to calm their nerves.

Fianna Fail’s Tipperary South representative, Mattie McGrath said that if drink is such a sedative, it could make people who are jumpy on the road, or nervous, more relaxed.

At the present moment, Ireland is gripped by a debate over government plans to reduce the legal blood alcohol content limit to 50 mg per 100 ml from 80 mg in order to reduce road fatalities.

20 members of the parliament from Prime Minister Brian Cowen’s Fianna Fail party oppose lowering the limit which would rule out a traditional Irish pint of Guinness for those in command of a car.

Motoring group, AA, claims that there was no evidence to back up Mr McGrath’s claim which made the front page on most Irish newspapers.

AA director of policy, Conor Faughnan said that it’s an old wives tail, and you would get people who’ll tell you that smoking is good for you based on a granny who lived to be 95.