A zero alcohol limit for young drivers is being considered by Minister for Transport Martin Cullen.
"I think that's something that has worked in other countries," he said yesterday.
"I think it's a very good idea. I think it's one that I'd like to adopt here. I obviously have to talk with the Road Safety Authority and look at the legal implications of how we might do this."
He said this could form part of the "graduated" driver's licence system that he has spoken about. Motorists would have to work their way towards a "fully-qualified, all-singing, all-dancing licence".
Mr Cullen said countries such as Sweden and Australia operated such a system.
"The message would be that if you can get people into that habit. . .when they go on and get their full licence they don't go out and drink at all. It stays with them."
He said he was "very strongly" of the view that people should never drink and drive. "If you start out with bad habits you tend to keep those."
Mr Cullen said the Road Safety Authority was currently examining the driving licence system, and he would be asking it to look at the practicalities of introducing a zero alcohol limit for young drivers.
Mr Cullen was speaking as the European Conference of Transport Ministers closed in Dublin.
Transport ministers from 50 countries worldwide repeated their commitment to reducing road deaths by 50 per cent between 2000 and 2012.
"The increased mobility of people across Europe means we all must seek to improve our road safety standards," Mr Cullen said.
"We must continue to get our message across, especially to young male drivers. Excess speed and drink-driving are key causes of accidents on our roads."
An action plan designed to combat ageism by transport providers was launched yesterday.
Bus Éireann, Dublin Bus, Iarnród Éireann, Veolia Transport - which operates Luas - and the Rural Transport Initiative have signed up to the plan which includes staff training on age awareness.
Niall Crowley, Equality Authority chief executive, said he hoped other organisations would follow their lead and take on similar age-friendly initiatives.
