MANILA, Philippines ? Take it from Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo: driving while drinking or under the influence of alcohol is a bad mix.

Quoting studies, which show that driving while under the influence of liquor or alcohol puts driver at risk of being involved in road accidents, Arroyo is pushing for House Bill 382, which she co-authored with son, Camarines Sur Representative Diosdado ?Dato? Arroyo that seeks to declare it a criminal act.

The former President is known to have preference for hard drinks, particularly Scotch. A reporter who covered her in Malacanang remembered her telling the media that "my doctor said I should drink only enough to toast."

Citing the World Health Organization and various studies, Arroyo said that alcohol intake, depending on the level of intoxication ?results in impairment, which increases the likelihood of a crash since it produces poor judgment, decreased reaction time, lower vigilance and decreased visual acuity.?

She said that a number of road accidents in the country could be attributed to drunk driving.

In 2009, Arroyo said statistics in the country showed a 6.2-percent increase in alcohol-related accidents resulting to death, physical injuries and damage of properties.

?While other countries have institutionalized their policy regarding driving under the influence of alcohol (DUIA), the Philippines has seemingly remained reserved and lenient in punishing drunk drivers,? she said.

The provisions in Republic Act 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code are insufficient in defining what constitutes drunk driving.

Under the proposed measure, ?Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol (DUIA) Act of 2010,? a person can be charge of drunk driving when operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated with alcohol by reason of which the driver?s mental and motor skills are impaired or when the driver?s blood alcohol concentration level is zero point zero six (0.06) or more.

It also provides that every applicant for a driver?s license shall complete a course of instruction that provides information on driving and safety matters including the effects of consumption of alcoholic beverages on the ability of a person to operate a motor vehicle and the hazards of driving under the influence of alcohol.

All drivers involved in vehicular accidents resulting to loss of lives or physical injuries of serious nature shall be subjected to chemical tests to determine the presence and/or
concentration of alcohol.

The bill imposes a penalty of P5,000 fine and two months suspension of driver's license for first offense. For second offense, the penalty shall be P6,000 fine and three months suspension of driver?s license. For third offense, the penalty shall be P7,000 and six months suspension of driver?s license and for succeeding offenses, the penalty shall be P7,000 and automatic revocation of driver?s license.