Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) Limits

This table details the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) limits for the general population of drivers in all countries for which IARD has been able to verify the information with the respective national authorities or through publicly accessible documents. It is specified where different limits apply to sub-populations of drivers.

It is updated on an ongoing basis as jurisdictions enact or revise their requirements with assistance from staff of the Law Library of Congress (Washington, DC). The listed update date for this table indicates when IARD last conducted a review of records across all countries. For more information on how the table is populated, see What goes in the IARD Policy Tables? 

Suggested citation:

International Alliance for Responsible Drinking (IARD). (2019). Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limits. Retrieved from https://iard.org/science-resources/detail/Blood-Alcohol-Concentration-(BAC)-Limits

If you find any of the information outdated, please email us at RegDB@iard.org. 

The resources on this website are not intended as health advice to individuals about their drinking. People with specific questions about their drinking are encouraged to consult a healthcare professional. Together, they can determine what is best for that individual, based on individual risk factors, including family history, genetics, and lifestyle. For some people, the better choice may be to not drink at all.  

IARD Policy Tables are provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter. All IARD materials include a date of content review and they should be read in their entirety and not misrepresented or taken out of context.
 

Country/Territory BAC mg/ml BrAC mg/l Notes Authority
Albania 0.50 [none]   Law 8378 Road Code Art 184 as amended through 2011
Algeria 0.20 [none]   Law 01-14 on the Organization, Security and Policing of Road Traffic Art 18
Andorra 0.50 [none] BAC 0.20 for commercial drivers and drivers of passenger vehicles Traffic Code of 10 June 1999 Art 124
Angola 0.60 0.23   Highway Code 94/260 Art 80
Antigua and Barbuda 0.80 0.35   Vehicles and Road Traffic (Amendment) Act, 2018 Art 54F
Argentina 0.0*   *The status of adoption of the 0.0 BAC limit for implementation varies by jurisdiction:
- 15 have approved it (Buenos Aires, Chaco, Chubut, Córdoba, Entre Ríos, Formosa, Jujuy, La Pampa, La Rioja, Neuquen, Río Negro, Salta, Santa Cruz, Santiago del Estero, Tierra del Fuego, and Tucumán)
- 4 are at various stages (Catamarca, Corrientes, Misiones, and Santa Fe)​
- 4 have not approved it (Ciudad de Buenos Aires, , Mendoza, San Juan, and San Luis provinces)		 Law 24.449 of 1994 Art 48 as amended by Decree 254-2023 Transit Law
Armenia 0.40 0.20   Code of administrative offenses and amendments, traffic regulations Art 126(9)
Australia 0.50 [none] Capital Territory: 0.0 mg/mL for learner drivers;
New South Wales: 0.2 mg/mL for novice drivers;
Northern Territory: 0.0 mg/mL for novice drivers and drivers under 18 years old;
Queensland: 0.0 mg/mL for drivers on learner permit;
Tasmania: 0.0 mg/mL for learner drivers;
Victoria: 0.0 mg/mL for learner drivers;
Western Australia: 0.2 mg/mL for novice drivers		 Capital Territory: Road Transport (Alcohol and Drugs) Act 1977 Sections 4B and 4C 

New South Wales: Road Transport Act 2013, Section 108 and Part 5.1 

Northern Territory: Traffic Act Sections 19, 23-24 

Queensland: Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995 Sections 1F - 2B 

South Australia: Road Traffic Act 1961, Division 5 

Tasmania: Road Safety (Alcohol and Drugs) Act 1970, Section 17 

Victoria: Road Safety Act 1986, Section 49 and definitions 

Western Australia: Road Traffic Act (1974), Sections 63-65
Austria 0.50 0.25 BAC 0.10 / BrAC 0.05 for drivers holding provisional licenses, moped drivers under 20 years old, and professional drivers Federal Law 120 on Driving Licenses and Road Traffic Regulations Sec 3 Art 14 as amended through 2015 
Azerbaijan [none] [none] It is a punishable violation to operate a vehicle under the influence of alcohol but a BAC or BrAC are not defined. Law on Road Traffic 2014 Art 37.8, 79.4
Bahamas 0.80 0.35   Road Traffic Act 2002 Sec 49E
Bahrain [none] [none] Drink-driving is prohibited, but no BAC/BrAC is defined Law 23/2014 Art 51
Bangladesh [none] [none] Driving while intoxicated is prohibited, but no BAC/BrAC is defined Road Transport Act 2018 Art 10-11
Barbados [none] [none] Driving while under the influence of drink or a drug to such an extent as to be incapable of having proper control of the vehicle is an offense, but no specific means of establishing that extent is defined. Road Traffic Act Art 85, Road Traffic Regulations Art 129
Belarus 0.30 0.15   Resolution 497 of 14 April 2011 Regulations on Intoxication Testing Sec 3
Belgium 0.50 0.22 BAC 0.20 / BrAC 0.09 for professional drivers Road Traffic Law of 27 March 1968 as amended through 2014, Art 34
Belize 0.80 [none]   Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act Cap 230 Art 74-81
Benin [none] [none]   [n/a]
Bermuda 0.80 [none]   Road Traffic Amendment Act 2012
Bhutan 0.80   BAC 0.0 for professional drivers and for novice drivers (those who have had their license for less than three years or hold a learner license) Road Safety and Transport Act 1999 Sec 34
Bolivia 0.50 [the equivalent to BAC] BAC 0.01 for drivers of public transport vehicles Supreme Decree 1347 of 10 September 2012 Articles 3,14; Supreme Decree 659 of 6 October 2010 Art 16
Bosnia and Herzegovina 0.30 [none] BAC 0.00 for drivers of commercial vehicles transporting passengers or cargo Basic Law on Road Traffic Safety of 22 December 2005, Article 174 as amended through 2013
Botswana 0.50 0.22 BAC 0.25 and BrAC 0.11 for professional drivers Road Traffic Act 1975 as amended through 2001, Road Traffic Limit of Alcohol Regulations 2013 Sec 130
Brazil 0.00 0.05 Administrative infraction: BAC 0.0-0.6 / BrAC 0.05-0.33 
Criminal infraction: BAC above 0.6 / BrAC above 0.34 		 Law 9.503 of 23 September 1997 as amended through 2012 Art 165 and National Council of Transit (CONTRAN) Resolution 432 of 23 January 2013 Art 6-7 
Brunei 0.80 0.35   Road Traffic Act 1991 Sec 26A-C as amended through 2013
Bulgaria 0.50 [none]   Road Traffic Act of 01 September 1999 as amended through 2015, Arts 102, 171-177
Burkina Faso [none] [none]   Decree 2009-055 of 17 February 2009 on the Adoption of the National Road Safety Policy
Burundi 0.80 [none]   Road Traffic Code N.1/26 (2012), Articles 190-192 
Law N.1/04 Regarding Domestic Road Transportation (2009)
Cabo Verde 0.50 [to be confirmed]   Law No.59/VIII/2010 as amended by Law No. 51/IX/2019
Cambodia 0.50 0.25   Law on Road Traffic 2009 Art 8 as amended through 2014
Cameroon 0.80 [none]   CEMAC Regulation 4/2001 Community Highway Code
Canada [varies by province]   Federal criminal offense at BAC 0.80 ;
BAC 0.00 for novice drivers and drivers under 21 years in every province and territory except Nunavut ;
Province/Territory legal BAC limits: 
  0.40 in Saskatchewan 
  0.50 in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, and Prince Edward Island 
  0.80 in Quebec and Yukon Territory.		 Criminal Code R.S.C. 1985 c.C-46 Sec 253

See CCSA summary Short-term administrative sanctions for alcohol and drug use by drivers (2021)
Central African Republic 0.80 [none]   CEMAC Regulation 4/2001 Community Highway Code
Chad 0.80 [none]   CEMAC Regulation 4/2001 Community Highway Code
Chile 0.30 [none] BAC Definitions of serious offenses: 
0.30-0.80: driving under the influence, 
>0.80: driving drunk		 Law 20795 Traffic Law Arts 110-111, 120
China 0.20 [none] BAC Definitions: 
0.20-0.80: driving while drinking alcohol, 
0.80 or above: driving while intoxicated		 Traffic Safety Law 2011
Chinese Taipei 0.50 0.25   Criminal Code 2014 Art 89, 185-3
Colombia 0.20 [none] Penalties are graduated by BAC and recidivism Law 769 of 2002 Art 152 as amended by Law 1696 of 2013
Comoros [none] [none] Driving in a state of drunkenness is punishable, but not defined by a BAC or BrAC. Penal Code Art 229-5
Congo, Republic 0.80 [none]   CEMAC Regulation 4/2001 Community Highway Code
Costa Rica 0.50 0.25 BAC 0.20 / BrAC 0.10 for professional or novice drivers (license issued within 3 years);
Penalties are graduated by BAC/BrAC and recidivism		 Law 9078 of 2012 Transit on Public Roads and Road Safety Art 143, 254
Croatia 0.53 [the equivalent to BAC] BAC 0.00 for professional drivers and drivers under 24 years of age Road Traffic Safety Act, Art 199 as amended through 2015 
Cuba 0.50 0.25 BAC 0.00 for novice and commercial drivers Law 109 Highway Safety Code Art 93 and Ministry of Public Health Resolution 28/2011
Cyprus 0.50 0.22 BAC 0.20 / BrAC 0.09 for novice drivers (on learner’s permit or holding a license for less than 3 years) and commercial drivers Law 174/1986 on Road Safety Part II
Czechia 0.21 0.11   Law on Road Traffic 2000 and Act no.379/2005 Coll. as amended by Act no.274/2008 Coll. Sec 16
Democratic Republic of the Congo 1.00 [none]   Roads Code 1978 Art 104.1
Denmark 0.50 0.25 Penalties are graduated by BAC, recidivism, and aggravating circumstances Law 1386 Road Traffic Act 2013 Art 53-54
Dominica 0.80 [none]   Vehicles and Road Traffic Act Art 56-61, 64
Dominican Republic 0.50 0.25 BAC and BrAC 0.00 for professional drivers; BAC 0.2 and BrAC 0.1 for motorcycle drivers Law 63-17 Land Transport, Transit and Road Safety 2017 Art 25B
Ecuador 0.30 [none] BAC 0.10 for professional drivers. 


Penalties are graduated by BAC and recidivism.		 Land Transportation Law amended by Law 415-S 2011
Egypt [none] [none]   [n/a]
El Salvador 1.00 [none] BAC Definitions: 
0.50-0.99: pre-inebriated, 
1.00 or above: inebriated.		 General Regulation of Traffic and Road Safety Art 171, 251
Equatorial Guinea 0.80 [none]   CEMAC Regulation 4/2001 Community Highway Code
Eritrea 0.50   BAC 0.30 for comercial drivers The Road Traffic Proclamation No154 2006 Art 5 Sec 3
Estonia 0.20 0.10   Traffic Law 2000 Art 20 
Ethiopia [none] [none] It is provided that "no person shall drive a vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating drugs or drink" but no specific BAC or BrAC limit is established. Transportation Amendment Regulations 1963 Sec 5
Fiji 0.80 [none] BAC 0.00 for professional drivers and for drivers on learner's permit Land Transport Act 1998 Art 103, 105
Finland 0.50 0.22   Penal Code Secs 3-4
France 0.50 0.25 BAC 0.20 / BrAC 0.10 for drivers on a learner's permit, public transport drivers, drivers whose license is on probation Code of Roads, Art R234-1
Gabon 0.80 [none]   CEMAC Regulation 4/2001 Community Highway Code
Gambia [none] [none]   Motor Traffic Act, Cap 70:03
Georgia 0.30 [none]   Administrative Code Art 116.10
Germany 0.50 0.25 BAC/BrAC 0.00 for novice drivers (on learner's permit or below 21 years old) and for commercial/professional drivers Road Traffic Act 2003, Art 24a 
Ghana 0.80 0.35   Highway Code Rule 95 based on Road Traffic Act 1988 Sec 4-5, 11.2 
Greece 0.50 0.25 BAC 0.20 / BrAC 0.10 for novice and commercial drivers and for drivers of motorcycles and mopeds Road Traffic Code as amended through 2012 
Grenada [none] [none] Drink driving is a punishable offence, but no BAC or BrAC limits are defined. Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act Art 48, Road Traffic Act Art 62
Guatemala [none] [none] Drink driving is a punishable offence, but no BAC or BrAC limits are defined. Penal Code Art 157 and Transit Regulation (273-98) Art 175-177
Guinea Bisseau [none] [none]   [n/a]
Guyana 0.80 0.35   The Evidence and Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act 2008
Haiti [none] [none] Drink driving is a punishable offence, but no BAC or BrAC limits are defined. Roads Code 2006 Art 44
Honduras [none] [none] Driving after consumption of intoxicating beverages is a serious offense, but no BAC or BrAC is specified. Road Traffic Law 2005 Art 98 Sec 16, Decree 155 of 2015 Law on Land Transportation
Hungary [none] [none] A "zero tolerance" policy is in place. 
BAC >0.50 incurs criminal sanctions		 Road Traffic Law 1988 I.20.1.k, Decree 1/1975.II.5 Rules of the road, Criminal Code Sec 236, 240
Iceland 0.20 0.10 Penalties are graduated by BAC / BrAC and recidivism status. Traffic Act 77/2019 Art 49
India 0.30 [none]   The Motor Vehicles Act 1988 Sec 185
Indonesia [none] [none]   [n/a]
Iran [none] [none]   [n/a]
Iraq [none] [none]   [n/a]
Ireland  0.50 [none] BAC 0.20 for drivers aged 18-25 and professional drivers Road Traffic Act 2011
Israel 0.50 0.24 BAC 0.10 and BrAC 0.05 for drivers under 24 years of age, commercial drivers Ministry of Transport and Road Safety, Alcohol and Driving webpage 2018
Italy 0.50 [none] BAC 0.00 for commercial and young (aged under 21) drivers Law 120/2010 Provisions of road safety, Law 285/1992 Art 186
Jamaica 0.80 0.01 BAC 0.01 for holders of a learner's permit and 0.02 for the drivers accompanying them Road Traffic Act  2018 Arts 24, 27, Fifth Schedule
Japan 0.30 0.15   National Police Agency, Traffic rules - English translation
Kazakhstan 0.50 0.30   Road Traffic Act (2014), Article 4 Section 2 
Ministry of Health Order No. 504 of July 13, 2017
Kenya 0.80 0.35   Cap 403 Traffic Act and Traffic (Breathalyzer) Rules 2011 Art 2-3
Kiribati 0.80 [none]   Traffic Act 2002 Sec 40, Traffic Amendment Act 2005 Sec 20-21
Korea, Republic of 0.30 [none]   Road Traffic Act 1961 Art 44 as amended through 2018
Kuwait [none] [none] Driving under the influence of alcohol is an arrestable offense, but no BAC or BrAC limits are defined Law N.52 2001 Art 44.6
Kyrgyzstan [none] [none]   [n/a]
Laos 0.80 0.24 BAC/BrAC 0.00 for professional drivers Law on Road Traffic 2013 Art 20
Latvia 0.50 [none] BAC 0.20 for novice (within two years of obtaining a license) drivers Road Traffic Law Sec 28
Lebanon 0.50 [none] BAC 0.00 for drivers of buses and public transportation and for novice drivers (within three years of obtaining a license) Road Traffic Law N. 243/2015 Art 17
Lesotho 0.80 [indication exceeding 100 mg per 100 ml in blood]   The Road Traffic Act 1981 Section 92
Liberia 0.53 [none]   Vehicle and Traffic Law 1972
Libya [none] [none]   [n/a]
Liechtenstein 0.80 [none]   Road Traffic Regulations 1978 Art 2 as amended through 2007
Lithuania 0.40 [none] BAC 0.0 for novice (within the first two years of obtaining a license) and commercial drivers Road Traffic Safety Law, Road Traffic Regulations and Code of Administrative Violations Art 420
Luxembourg 0.50 0.25 BAC/BrAC 0.20/0.10 for novice and professional drivers Highway Code (Law of 14 February 1955) Article 12
Macedonia 0.53 [none] BAC 0.11 for drivers under 21 years of age and commercial drivers Consolidated Law on Road Safety Art 234
Madagascar [none] [none] Driving in a state of intoxication or while under teh influence of alcohol is punishable by fine, but no BAC/BrAC limits are defined. Roads Code 2014 Art L3.3-4, L7.1-1
Malawi 0.80 0.38   Chapter 69:01 Road Traffic Act Art 128
Malaysia 0.50 0.22   Road Traffic Act 1987 Sec 45G as amended in 2020
Maldives [none] [none]   [n/a]
Mali [none] [none] Driving under the influence of alcohol is an offense, but no BAC/BrAC limits are defined. Penal Code 2001 Art 319, Roads Code Art 8
Malta 0.50 0.22 BAC 0.2 for commercial and novice drivers and BAC 0.0 for professional drivers of vehicles carrying passengers Traffic Regulation Ordinance Art 15i
Marshall Islands 1.06 [the equivalent to BAC]   Motor Vehicles Code Title 13 Chapter 3
Mauritania [none] [none]   [n/a]
Mauritius 0.20 0.09   Road Traffic Act 2003 Art 123F
Road Traffic Amendment Act 2018 Art 3
Mexico [varies by state]    0.4 mg/mL in Sonora;
0.5 mg/mL in Jalisco, Morelos and San Luis Potosí ;
0.8 mg/mL in Aguascalientes, Guanajato, Distrito Federal, Estado de México, Hidalgo, Michoacán, Nuevo León, Oaxaca, Tamaulipas, Veracruz and Yucatán;
1.0 mg/mL in Chihuahua and Tabasco;
[none] or [varies at local level] in Hidalgo, Baja California Sur		 Aguascalientes Highway Code 2016 Art 145 bis; 
Chihuahua Road Traffic Law 2006 Art 49; 
Distrito Federal Transportation Regulations 2015 Art 50; 
Estado de México Road Traffic Regulations 1992 Art 106Bis; 
Guanajuato Traffic and Road Traffic Law 1993 Art 137; 
Hidalgo Transportation Regulations 2014 Art 81; 
Jalisco Movement and Transportation Regulations 2013 Art 72; 
Michoacán Traffic and Roads Act 2007 Art 96; 
Morelos Traffic Law 1989 Art 9Bis; 
Nuevo León Unified Transit Regulations 2017 Art 4; 
Oaxaca Law on Transit, Mobility and Roads Art 3; 
San Luis PotosíTraffic Law 2011 Art 6; 
Sonora Traffic Law Art 81; 
Tabasco Road Traffic Law 2007 Art 4; 
TamaulipasTraffic Law 2010 Art 19Ter; 
Veracruz Law on Transit and Road Safety Art 73; 
Yucatán Traffic Law 2011 Art 328
Moldova 0.30 0.15 Penalties are graduated by BAC / BRAC. Penal Code Arts 134, 264
Monaco 0.50 0.25   Law 1320/2006 Penal Code Art 419
Mongolia 0.50 0.20   Joint Resolution A/138,A/131 of 2016 Rules for verifying driving under the influence of alcohol or psychotropic substances
Montenegro 0.30 [none] BAC 0.0 for young and novice drivers Law on Road Traffic Safety 2012 amended 2014 Art 182
Montserrat [none] [none]   Road Traffic Act 2008 Art 47
Morocco 0.20 0.10   Law 5205 Highway Code 2010 Art 183 and Decree 210419 Art 60
Mozambique 0.60 0.30 BAC and BrAC 0.00 for public transport and dangerous cargo drivers Road Traffic Act 2011 Art 80
Namibia 0.79 0.38   Road Traffic and Transport Act 1999 Art 82
Nauru 0.50 [none]   Motor Traffic Act 2014 Sec 69-70, 81
Nepal [none] [none]   Motor Vehicles and Transport Management Act 1993 Art 142
Netherlands 0.50 0.22 BAC 0.20 / BrAC 0.088 for novice drivers (in the first 5 years since obtaining a license) and drivers of mopeds first issued a license when under 18 years old in the first 7 years since obtaining a license Road Traffic Act 1994 Art 8
New Zealand 0.50 0.25 BAC / BrAC 0.00 for young drivers aged under 20 years Land Transport Act 1998 Sec 11 as amended through 2015
Nicaragua 0.50 [none]   Law 856 of 2014 Reforms to Law 431 Vehicle Circulation and Traffic Offenses Arts 24, 26-27
Niger [none] [none]   [n/a]
Nigeria 0.50     Act 22/2007 Federal Road Safety Commission (Establishment) Act Article 22
Niue 0.80 0.04   Transport Act 1965 Sec 45AA as amended through 2006
Norway 0.20 0.10 Penalties are graduated by BAC Road Traffic Act Art 22
Oman [none] [none] Driving under the influence of alcohol is prohibited. Traffic Law 2005 Art 35
Pakistan [none] [none]   [n/a]
Panama 0.50 0.25 Penalties are graduated by BAC / BrAC Regulation of Road Traffic Safety Executive Decree 640 of 27 December 2006 Art 141
Papua New Guinea [none] [none]   Road Traffic Act 2013 Sec 42
Paraguay 0.00 0.00 Penalties are graduated by BAC / BrAC Law 5016/2014 Transport and Road Safety Law Arts 66, 111-113, 153
Peru 0.50 [none] BAC 0.25 for drivers of commercial, passenger and cargo vehicles Supreme Decree 003/2014 and Penal Code Article 274
Philippines 0.50 [none] BAC 0.00 for professional drivers Republic Act 10586 Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2013 Sec 3(g)
Poland 0.20 [none]   Criminal Code Art 42 Sec 2 


Act on Upbringing in Sobriety and Counteracting Alcoholism 2001 Art 46
Portugal 0.50 [none] BAC 0.20 for commercial drivers and novice drivers (in the 3 years since first obtaining a license) Law 72/2013 Art 81
Highway Code Art 81
Qatar [none] [none]   Traffic Law N. 19/2007 Chapter IV Art 57
Romania [none] [none] A "zero tolerance" policy is in place. 
BrAC of 0.40 or higher requires undergoing laboratory BAC testing;
BAC >0.80 incurs criminal sanctions		 GEO 195/2002 Highway Code Art 88 and Decision 1391-2006 on GEO 195/2002 


Law 286/2009 Penal Code Art 336
Russia 0.30 0.16   Code of Administrative Offenses Art 27.12 and Decree No. 475-2008
Rwanda 0.80 [none]   Road Traffic Act 2010 Sec 3 
Saint Christopher and Nevis 0.80 [none]   Vehicle and Road Traffic Act Art 41-47
Saint Lucia 0.80 0.35   Law 10 of 2003 Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act Sec 75, 106
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines [none] [none] Driving “under the influence of drink or drug to such an extent as to be incapable of having proper control of the vehicle” is an offense, but no BAC/BrAC limits are defined. Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act Art 47 
Samoa 0.80 0.40   Road Traffic Ordinance 1960 as amended through 2015 Art 40
Sao Tome and Principe [none] [none]   [n/a]
Saudi Arabia [none] [none]   [n/a]
Senegal [none] [none]   Decree 2004-13 setting the rules for application of Law 2002-30 Roads Code (Regulations) Arts 111-112 
Law 2002-30 Roads Code Art 6
Serbia 0.30 [none] BAC 0.00 for commercial drivers, motorcycle drivers, novice drivers (aged 17-18 years on probationary license) Law on Road Traffic Safety 2010 Art 187
Seychelles 0.80 [none]   Cap 206 Road Transport Act
Sierra Leone 0.80 0.35   Road Traffic Act 2007 Art 102, 108
Singapore 0.80 0.35   Road Traffic Act Sec 67-71C
Slovakia [none] [none] A "zero tolerance" policy is in place Law N.8/2009 Road Traffic Art 1 Part I Sec 4.B
Slovenia 0.53 0.24 BAC 0.00 for novice and professional drivers Law on Road Traffic Rules 2013 Art 104-105
Solomon Islands 0.50 [none]   Police and Transport Legislation Amendment Alcohol Testing Act 2016
Somalia [none] [none]   Traffic Code 2013 Art 66.2d
South Africa 0.50 0.24 BAC 0.20 / BrAC 0.10 for professional drivers National Road Traffic Act Sec 65
Spain 0.50 0.25 BAC 0.30 / BrAC 0.15 for commercial and novice drivers (in the first two years since obtaining a license
BAC 0.00 / BrAC 0.00 for minors		 Royal Legislative Decree 6/2015 of October 30 Art 14 and amendments thorugh 2022
Sudan [none] [none]   [n/a]
Suriname 0.50 0.22   Act 1971 Art 33
Swaziland 0.50 0.38 BAC 0.20 for professional and commercial drivers Road Traffic Act No.6 of 2007 Sec 91(1) 
Sweden 0.20 0.10   Act 649 Code of Statutes Sec 4
Switzerland 0.50 [none] BAC 0.10  for professional drivers and novice drivers (those driving on a learner's permit);
From 2016, breath alcohol tests replace blood alcohol tests.		 Federal Law on Road Traffic and Regulations as amended through July 2015 


See Swiss Confederation and Cantons’ Service overview (January 2018)
Tajikistan [none] [none] Driving while intoxicated is an offense, but no BAC is specified. Road Traffic Law Art 31, Procedural Code of Administrative Offences Art 71, 73
Tanzania 0.80 [none] BAC 0.00 for professional drivers Highway Code 2008
Thailand 0.50 [none] BAC 0.00 for professional drivers; 
BAC 0.20 for drivers younger than 20 and those on temporary license		 Land Traffic Act 1979 Sec 43, and Regulations 2537 and 21
Timor L'Este 0.50 0.22   Highway Code Sec 75
Togo [none] [none]   [n/a]
Tonga 0.30 0.15   Traffic Amendment Act 2010 Sec 6
Trinidad and Tobago 0.80 0.35   Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act 2007 Art 70
Tunisia 0.50 [none]   Decree 2000-146 Art 6
Turkey 0.50 [none] BAC 0.20 for commercial drivers Highway Regulations 1997 Part II 
Turkmenistan [none] [none]   Code of Administrative Offences Art 254
Tuvalu 0.80 [none]   Traffic Act 1952 Sec 23A as amended through 2008
Uganda 0.80 0.35 BAC / BrAC 0.00 for commercial and professional drivers Traffic and Road Safety (Prescribed Alcohol Limits) Regulations 2004
Ukraine 0.20 [none]   Road Traffic Law 1993, Joint Ministerial Decree No.1452/735 of 09.11.2015
United Arab Emirates [none] [none] Drink-driving is prohibited, but no BAC/BrAC limits are defined. Federal Law N. 21/1995 Art 10.6
United Kingdom [varies by country]   BAC 
  0.80 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland;
  0.50 in Scotland		 United Kingdom Road Safety Act 2006 


Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order (1995); upon commencement of Road Traffic (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2016, the BAC will decrease to 0.50 


Scotland Road Traffic Act (Prescribed Limit) Regulations 2014
United States 0.80* [none] *BAC 0.50 in Utah 
BAC 0.20 or lower [varies by state] for drivers under 21 years of age;
BAC 0.4 for holders of a commercial driver's license [Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)]		 23 U.S.C. § 161 and § 163 

Legislation varies by jurisdiction: see the Alcohol Policy Information System (APIS) for more details
Uruguay 0.00 [none]   Law 18.191 as amended through 2015
Uzbekistan [none] [none] Driving in a state of intoxication or under the influence of alcohol is an offence, but no BAC/BrAC limits are defined. Council of Ministers Decree on Approval of Road Traffic Rules 2015 Art 12, Code of Administrative Offences Art 131
Vanuatu [none] [none] Drink-driving is prohibited,but no BAC/BrAC limits are defined. Road Traffic Act Cap 29 Art 16
Venezuela 0.80 [none]   Regulation of the Land transport law 2 July 1998 Art 152
Vietnam 0.00 0.00 BAC 0.50 / BrAC 0.25 for motorcycle drivers.
Tiered penalties begin at a BAC of 0.0 mg/mL to a BAC exceeding 0.8 mg/mL.		 Law 23/2008 on Road Traffic and Decree 71/2012 Art 8-9
Yemen [none] [none]   [n/a]
Zambia [none] [none]   The Roads and Road Traffic Act 2002 Art 197-199
Zimbabwe 0.80 [none]   Chapter 13:11 Road Traffic Act Art 54-55

Search for resources by

International Alliance for Responsible Drinking

© 2021 International Alliance for Responsible Drinking
IARD’s members and the members of its Partnership Council are a diverse group of organizations with a variety of viewpoints. They might not necessarily agree on all or any subjects. Any statements, findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed on this website do not reflect the policies or views of all IARD members or the organizations they represent, unless explicitly stated. However, all members agree on and support IARD’s mission of reducing the harmful use of alcohol.
The resources on this website are not intended as health advice to individuals about their drinking. People with specific questions about their drinking are encouraged to consult a healthcare professional. Together, they can determine what is best for that individual, based on individual risk factors, including family history, genetics, and lifestyle. For some people, the better choice may be to not drink at all.