Budapest - Road accidents involving alcohol are down by one- fifth in Hungary since tougher drunk-driving penalties took effect in January, the government statistics agency said Thursday.

Under the new rules, police in the wine-drinking East European nation can seize a driving licence on the spot if they find any alcohol in the driver's blood.

Hungary has long had a zero-tolerance rule on alcohol at the wheel, but penalties were more lenient until now.

Drunk-driving accidents were 20 per cent lower in the first six months of 2008 compared to the same period last year, the data said. The total number of road accidents was down by 7 per cent. dpa