Permissible level of alcohol content in blood in European countries
In different countries of Europe, there are different norms for the permissible level of alcohol content in the blood for drivers. Here are the main indicators:
| Country | Experienced drivers | Young drivers | Commercial drivers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | 0.5 g/l | 0.1 g/l | 0.1 g/l |
| Belgium | 0.5 g/l | 0.2 g/l | 0.2 g/l |
| Bulgaria | 0.5 g/l | 0.5 g/l | 0.5 g/l |
| Croatia | 0.5 g/l | 0.0 g/l | 0.0 g/l |
| Cyprus | 0.5 g/l | 0.2 g/l | 0.2 g/l |
| Czech Republic | 0.0 g/l | 0.0 g/l | 0.0 g/l |
| Denmark | 0.5 g/l | 0.5 g/l | 0.5 g/l |
| Estonia | 0.2 g/l | 0.2 g/l | 0.2 g/l |
| Finland | 0.5 g/l | 0.5 g/l | 0.5 g/l |
| France | 0.5 g/l | 0.2 g/l | 0.2 g/l (for buses) |
| Germany | 0.5 g/l | 0.0 g/l | 0.0 g/l |
| Greece | 0.5 g/l | 0.2 g/l | 0.2 g/l |
| Hungary | 0.0 g/l | 0.0 g/l | 0.0 g/l |
| Ireland | 0.5 g/l | 0.2 g/l | 0.2 g/l |
| Italy | 0.5 g/l | 0.0 g/l | 0.0 g/l |
| Latvia | 0.5 g/l | 0.2 g/l | – |
| Lithuania | 0.4 g/l | 0.2 g/l | – |
| Luxembourg | 0.5 g/l | 0.2 g/l | – |
| Malta | 0.8 g/l | – | – |
| Netherlands | 0.5 g/l | 0.2 g/l | – |
| Poland | 0.2 g/l | 0.2 g/l | – |
| Portugal | 0.5 g/l | 0.2 g/l | – |
| Romania | 0.00 | – | – |
| Slovakia | 0,00 | – | – |
| Slovenia | 0,5 | – | – |
| Sweden | 0,2 | – | – |
| Ukraine | 0.00 | – | – |
| Moldova | 0.3 | – | – |
General trends
- Zero tolerance : Countries such as the Czech Republic, Hungary, Ukraine, Slovakia and Romania have a zero tolerance policy for drinking and driving.
- Young drivers : Many countries set lower limits for young or new drivers.
- Heavy fines : In most European countries, there are severe penalties for drinking too much, including fines, disqualification and even imprisonment.
Understanding the permissible blood alcohol level is important for road safety and compliance with legislation in various European countries, so drivers are advised to avoid drinking alcohol before driving to prevent risks to themselves and other road users
Penalties and fines for drunk driving in Europe
Drink driving is a serious offense across Europe and penalties vary widely from country to country. Below is an overview of blood alcohol limits and corresponding fines for various European countries.
| Country | Limitation | High range | Additional fines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | 0,5 ‰ | From €500 | Driving ban for 1 month; increased fines for repeat offenders. |
| Austria | 0,5 ‰ | From €300 | License suspension is possible. |
| Italy | 0,5 ‰ | From €535 | License suspension for higher levels. |
| France | 0,5 ‰ | From €135 | In severe cases, imprisonment is possible. |
| Spain | 0,5 ‰ | From €500 | License suspension and possible jail time. |
| Portugal | 0,5 ‰ | From €250 | Additional fines for repeated violations. |
| Switzerland | 0,5 ‰ | From €545 | Suspension of rights and increased fines for repeat offenders. |
| Greece | 0,5 ‰ | From €200 | License suspension is possible. |
| Liechtenstein | 0,8 ‰ | Up to 50,000 euros | Severe fines for exceeding the limit. |
| Luxembourg | 0,5 ‰ | From €145 | License suspension is possible. |
| Netherlands | 0,5 ‰ | From €300 | Additional fines for repeated violations. |
| Norway | 0,2 ‰ | From €490 | License suspension and possible jail time. |
| Finland | 0,5 ‰ | From 15 daily rates | License suspension and possible imprisonment in severe cases. |
| Sweden | 0,2 ‰ | From 40 daily rates | Suspension of rights and increased fines for repeat offenders. |
| Denmark | 0,5 ‰ | Up to a month’s salary | Suspension of rights and increased fines for repeat offenders. |
| Czech Republic | 0,0 ‰ | From €100 | Severe penalties, including license suspension. |
| Hungary | 0,0 ‰ | From €275 | Severe penalties, including license suspension. |
| Slovakia | 0,0 ‰ | From €200 | Severe penalties, including license suspension. |
| Slovenia | 0,5 ‰ | From €300 | License suspension is possible for higher BAC levels. |
| Romania | 0,0 ‰ | From €410 | Severe penalties, including license suspension. |
| Ukraine | 0,0 ‰ | From €377 | Suspension of rights for one year |
| Moldova | 0,3 ‰ | From €800 | Suspension of rights for 2 years |
Key remarks
- Countries such as the Czech Republic, Hungary, Ukraine, Romania and Slovakia have a strict zero tolerance policy (0.0 ‰) with significant fines and possible license suspension.
- Fines can be extremely high in Liechtenstein, with fines of up to €50,000 for exceeding the blood alcohol limit.
- Scandinavian countries such as Sweden and Norway have lower blood alcohol limits (0.2‰) and apply severe fines.
- Many countries impose additional penalties such as driving bans, mandatory rehabilitation programs or even imprisonment depending on the severity of the offence.