Residents of Italy's Avellino province can have a BOTTLE of wine before driving
Italian drivers can now drink a whole bottle of wine before driving and not lose their licence following a change in the law.
Carlo Sessa, the prefect of Avellino in the south of the country, introduced the new rules in the province which mean drivers who have consumed eight glasses - about one bottle - could only be fined £560.
The move has been slammed by road safety groups who say it sends the message that it is 'OK to drive drunk'.
New rules: Drivers who have drunk eight glasses of wine could get away with just a £560 fine if they are caught
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ShareMr Sessa has introduced the new diktat, which reverses rules dictating that drivers found with a blood-alcohol content of between 0.8 and 1.5g per litre of blood will face having their license suspended for up to 12 months, according to The Telegraph.
Giving an explanation for the unusual move, Mr Sessa referred to the way the region's judiciary cancels suspensions of licences, adding that the change in the law will relieve the 'heavy burden on public administration'.
However, Giuseppa Cassaniti, president of the Italian Association for the Families and Victims of Road Deaths, told The Telegraph: 'This sends the message that it is OK to flout the law, that it is OK to drive drunk.
'It seems to me the prefect has done this because he’s sick and tired of judges reversing the law in the appeal courts.'
Drink driving: Residents in Avellino in the south of the country can drink a bottle of wine before getting behind the wheel and not lose their licence
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