According to a Health Ministry amendment, passed in its first reading in parliament on September 11, a breathalyser test will be positive when a driver's blood alcohol content exceeds 0.02%.
Non-government specialists recommended the standard due to false positives as a result of medication, smoking, and certain kinds of foods. A result higher than 0.02% could only be due to alcohol.
Health Committee chairman Viliam Novotný (SDKÚ) opposes the proposed change, saying some may believe it allows them to drink more than in the past.
On a related topic, Katarína Tóthová (ĽS-HZDS) criticised that there weren't any detention cells for drunks.
"We are the only country in Central Europe that doesn't have a facility for drunks," she complained in Parliament. [There were such facilities until five years ago, but they were closed due to financial reasons - ed. note.] TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
