Russia is to end its zero-tolerance drunk-driving law and allow motorists to have a small drink before taking the wheel, a road-safety official said Friday.

The maximum blood-alcohol level will be raised from zero to 0.3 grams per litre of blood on July 1 to move "in line with international standards", a spokesman for the State Traffic Inspectorate said.

This means the average Russian motorist will be able to drink one beer before taking the wheel, the Kommersant daily estimated.

Russia has one of the world`s worst road safety records, with 33,000 people dying in traffic accidents last year. Some 15,000 accidents were caused by drunk driving last year, according to government figures.
sections: Society