The DfT has proposed reducing the alcohol limit in for novice motorists and those within their two-year probation period from 80mg per 100ml of blood to around 20mg.
For all other drivers, the level would be lowered to around 50mg. This is the current limit in Scotland.
The current limit in England and Wales is 35 micrograms per 100ml of breath.
It is difficult to say how much of a drink this translates to, as people process alcohol differently depending on factors such as their age and weight.
The strategy also proposes a new requirement for some drink-drive offenders to have “alcolocks” installed in their vehicles — devices which prevent a vehicle being started or driven unless the driver passes a breath test.
Fitting these on an offender’s car would be a condition of them being allowed to drive again.
They are already used in several countries such as Australia, Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands and the US.
Penalties for drink driving will also be reviewed.
