Abstract
THE ROAD SIDE SURVEYS IN HELSINKI, FINLAND, DEMONSTRATED THE PREVALENCE OF DRIVERS WITH BLOOD ALCOHOL CONCENTRATIONS EQUAL TO OR ABOVE 0.03% TO BE AROUND 1% OF ALL DRIVERS. ALMOST A QUARTER OF THESE ALCOHOL POSITIVE (BAP) DRIVERS DID NOT POSSESS A VALID DRIVERS LICENCE, THEIR LICENCES BEING OFTEN REVOKED BECAUSE OF PREVIOUS DRINKING AND DRIVING OFFENCES. THE FINNISH BAP DRIVERS DRINK MORE HARD LIQUOR AND MORE OFTEN THAN THE REST OF THE DRIVING POPULATION. THE AUTHORS CONCLUDE THAT THE VERY PUNITIVE FINNISH LEGISLATION CONCERNING DRINKING AND DRIVING, WHICH IS PROBABLY GENERALLY EFFECTIVE, IS INEFFECTIVE IN DEALING WITH REPEATED OFFENDERS, WHO REPRESENT A DIFFICULT ALCOHOL PROBLEM.(Author/publisher).