The drink-driving limit for teenage motorists should be cut to zero, according to the Government’s chief medical officer.

Sir Liam Donaldson said a total cut in alcohol would reduce injuries and deaths among accident-prone 17 to 20-year-olds.

“We know that even without alcohol, young people are more likely to have an accident because they are inexperienced drivers and even with them driving within the alcohol limit, they are much more likely to have an accident than an older driver within the alcohol limit,” he told said.

“Young people have enough difficulty when they first start driving. With their inexperience, learning the skills on the road, they don’t need the complication of drink as well.”

Sir Liam admitted that problems could arise if drivers were to eat food or use mouthwash containing alcohol, but suggested that other countries had managed to successfully overcome the issues.

“I feel that this measure is about saving lives as well as harm to teenagers, and also those who they might affect if they are driving a car when they are drunk, and I believe that this would be a sensible public health measure,” he said.

The RAC, however, claimed that a two-tier system would further complicate drink driving limits, which some people already find confusing. Currently, the limit for all drivers is 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.

“The drink-drive limit should be lowered for everyone,” said Liz Kennett, an RAC spokeswoman.

Sir Liam's plan received a cool response from opposition parties. Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Norman Baker said: “There is a real argument to lower the drink-driving limit for all motorists to 50mg, in line with many European countries. But a zero limit risks criminalising those whose driving is not impaired.

“Young drivers could face legal problems because they have had a couple of drinks the night before or used alcohol in cooking. The answer is a lower limit for all drivers.”

Sir Liam’s proposal came in a wide-ranging annual health report which focused on teenage binge drinking, drug taking and unsafe sex. The report called for a national teenage health summit and a young person’s panel to offer advise on national campaigns.

“Adolescence ... is a period in which teenagers encounter risks and make hard choices,” he said.

“Habits adopted in the teenage years can form behaviour for a lifetime. The effects of poor health in adolescence can last a lifetime, and even shorten it.”