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. 
The listed update date (August 2025) 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? 
If you find any of the information outdated, please email us at RegDB@iard.org. 

Suggested citation:

International Alliance for Responsible Drinking (IARD). (2025). Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limits. Retrieved from https://iard.org/science-resources/detail/Blood-Alcohol-Concentration-(BAC)-Limits

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
Afghanistan [none] [none] Sale of alcohol beverages is prohibited. n/a
Albania >0.00 [none] Penalties vary by BAC, license duration, and other circumstances Law 8378 of Road Code (1998) Art 184
​Criminal Code Art 291
Algeria 0.20 [none]   Law 01-14 on the Organization, Security and Policing of Road Traffic 2, 18-22
Andorra 0.50 [none] BAC 0.10 for drivers of commercial drivers and drivers of passenger vehicles Traffic Code 2021 Chapter 24
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*   *Implementation of the 0.0 BAC limit varies by jurisdiction:
- 18 provinces have approved it (Buenos Aires, Catamarca, Chaco, Chubut, Córdoba, Entre Ríos, Formosa, Jujuy, Neuquén, La Pampa, La Rioja, Río Negro, Salta, San Luis, Santa Cruz, Santiago del Estero, Tierra del Fuego, Tucumán)
- 3 are at various stages (Corrientes, Santa Fe, Misiones)​
- 3 have not approved it (Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Mendoza, and San Juan)		 Law 24.449 of 1994 Art 48 as amended by Decree 254-2023 Transit Law
Armenia 0.80 0.40   Code of Administrative Violations Art 126
Australia 0.50 [none] BAC 0.0 for certain drivers or vehicles, definitions vary by jusrisdiction:
- Capital Territory: 0.0 mg/mL for learner, provisional, probationary or restricted driver licenses, drivers of public passenger vehicles, dangerous goods vehicles, or vehicles over 15 tons / 4.5 tons if a learner driver 
- New South Wales: 0.0 mg/mL for learners or provisional licenses, 0.2 for drivers of public passenger vehicles or vehicles and vehicle and trailer combinations over 13.9 tons or dangerous goods vehicles
- Northern Territory: 0.0 mg/mL for learner or provisional licenses, drivers of public passenger vehicles, dangerous goods vehicles, or vehicles over 15 tons
- Queensland: 0.0 mg/mL for learners or provisional licenses, drivers of vehicles over 4.5 tons, dangerous goods vehicles, public passneger vehicles 
- South Australia: 0.0 mg/mL for learner or probationary licences, public passenger vehicles, or dangerous goods vehicles 
- Tasmania: 0.0 mg/mL for learner licenses and drivers of public passenger vehicle or vehicle over 4.5 tons
- Victoria: 0.0 mg/mL for learner or probationary licenses, driveres of commercila passenger vehicles or  rigid or articulated trucks over 4.5 tons 
- Western Australia: 0.0 mg/mL for novice drivers and drivers of vehicles over 22.5 tons, dangerous goods vehicles, and public passenger vehicles 		 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 bus and commercial vehicle drivers, provisional driving license holders, those training to get their licenses and moped drivers under 20 years of age Federal Law 120 on Driving Licenses  Sec 3 Art 14
Law N. 159 Road Traffic Regulations  Sec 5b
Azerbaijan 0.30 [equivalent to the BAC]   Law on Road Traffic 2014 Art 37.I.8, 83
Cabinet Resolution No. 209-2014 Art 2.4
Code of administrative offenses Art 152
Penal Code Art 263
Bahamas 0.80 0.35   Road Traffic Act 2002 Sec 49E
Bahrain [none] [none]   Law 23/2014 Art 35
Bangladesh [none] [none] Driving while intoxicated is prohibited. Road Transport Act 2018 Art 10-11, 49
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. Road Traffic Act Art 85
Road Traffic Regulations Art 129
Belarus 0.30 0.15   Resolution 497 of 14 April 2011 egulations on Intoxication Testing Sec 3
Belgium 0.50 0.22 BAC 0.20 / BrAC 0.09 for professional drivers transporting people and drivers on a provisional license Road Traffic Law Art 34
Royal Decree on Breath Testing and Breathalyzer Devices 2007 Sec 1
Belize 0.80 [none]   Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act Art 75-81
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, Plurinational State of 0.50 [the equivalent to BAC]   Supreme Decree 1347 of 10 September 2012 Art 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 2005 Art 174
Botswana 0.50 0.22 BAC 0.25 / BrAC 0.11 for professional drivers and drivers of public service vehicles Road Traffic Act 1975 Art 46
Road Traffic Limit of Alcohol Regulations 2013 Art 2
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 Traffic Code 1997 Art 165
Law 11.705-2008 "Dry Law" amending Law No.9.503 Traffic Code
Law 12.760-2012
National Council of Transit (CONTRAN) Resolution 432-2013 Art 6-7 
Brunei Darussalam 0.80 0.35   Road Traffic Act Part 1 Interpretations & Sec 26A-C
Bulgaria 0.50 [none]   Road Traffic Act (Bulgarian) Art 174
Burkina Faso [none] [none]   Ordinance No. 71-010/PRES relating to the punishment of certain traffic offenses Art 9
Burundi 0.80 [none]   Road Traffic Code N.1/26-2012 Art 190-192 
Law N.1/04 Regarding Domestic Road Transportation 2009
Cabo Verde 0.50 0.22   Law No.59/VIII/2010 as amended by Law No. 51/IX/2019 Art 45
Cambodia 0.50 0.25   Law on Road Traffic 2017 Art 8
Cameroon 0.80 [none]   CEMAC Regulation 4/2001 Community Highway Code Art 9, 11
Canada [varies by province]   Federal criminal offense at BAC 0.80 ;
BAC 0.00 for novice drivers and drivers under 21/22 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
Highway Safety Code (1986) Sec 76.1.6 
See CCSA summary Administrative Sanctions for Alcohol and Drug Use by Drivers 2024 
Central African Republic 0.80 [none]   CEMAC Regulation 4/2001 Community Highway Code Art 9, 11
Chad 0.80 [none]   CEMAC Regulation 4/2001 Community Highway Code Art 9, 11
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		 Road Traffic Safety Law 2021 Art 91
Chinese Taipei 0.50 0.25   Criminal Code 2014 Art 89, 185-3
Colombia 0.20 [none] Penalties are graduated by BAC and recidivism National Land Transportation Code Law 769-2002 Art 152 
Law 1696-2013 Art 5
Comoros [none] [none] Driving "in a state of manifest intoxication" is an offense. Penal Code Art 172
Congo, Democratic Republic 1.00 [none]   Roads Code 1978 Art 104.1
Congo, Republic of 0.80 [none]   CEMAC Regulation 4/2001 Community Highway Code Art 9, 11
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
Cote d'Ivoire 0.80     [verification pending]
Croatia 0.53 [the equivalent to BAC] BAC 0.00 for professional drivers and drivers under 24 years of age Road Traffic Safety Act 2009 Article 199
Cuba 0.50 0.25 BAC 0.00 for novice and commercial drivers Law 109 Highway Safety Code Art 93
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 [none] [none] A zero tolerance approach is in place, reportedly with tolerance up to 0.24 mg/mL ​Law on Road Traffic 2000 Sec 5 & Annex
Denmark 0.50 0.25 Penalties are graduated by BAC, recidivism, and aggravating circumstances Law 1386 Road Traffic Act 2013 Art 53-54
Djibouti 0.80     Law No. 80/AN/10/6th L Amending the Highway Code Art L233
Dominica 0.80 [none]   Chapter 46:50 Vehicles and Road Traffic Act Art 62 
Dominican Republic 0.50 0.25 BAC 0.0 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]* * verification pending
BAC 0.10 for professional drivers. 
Penalties are graduated by BAC and recidivism.		 Land Transportation Law 145.2-145.3
Egypt [none] [none]   [n/a]
El Salvador 0.50 [none] BAC Definitions: 
<0.50: sorbiety,
0.50-0.99: pre-inebriation,
1.00 or above: inebriation.		 Law on Transportation, Traffic, and Road Safety Art 66
General Regulations on Transit and Road Safety (2025) Art 171-172
Equatorial Guinea 0.80 [none]   CEMAC Regulation 4/2001 Community Highway Code Art 9, 11
Eritrea 0.50   BAC 0.30 for comercial drivers The Road Traffic Proclamation No154 2006 Art 5 Sec 3
Penal Code 2015 ​Art 248
Estonia 0.20 0.10   Traffic Law 2000 Art 69, 224 
Eswatini            0.50 0.38 BAC 0.20 for professional and commercial drivers   Road Traffic Act No.6 of 2007 Sec 91(1)
Ethiopia [none]* [none]* * verification pending
Driving "under the influence of intoxicating drugs or drink" is prohibited.		 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
Land Transport (Breath Tests and Analyses) Regulations 2000 Sec 3
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 Art 9, 11
Gambia [none] [none]   Cap 70:03 Motor Traffic Act Sec 48
Georgia 0.30 [none]   Administrative Code Art 116
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 (StVG) Art 24a, 24c
Regulation (BOKraft) Sec 1 Title 2 Sub-sec 8(3), Sec 6 Sub-sec 45(2a)
Regulation (GGVSEB) Sec 28 Sub-sec 13
Ghana 0.80     Road Traffic Act 2004 Sec 4
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 Art 42
Grenada [none] [none] Drink driving is a punishable offense, 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 offense, but no BAC or BrAC limits are defined. Penal Code Art 157
Law on Road Traffic and its regulations Art 43, 177
Guinea [none]* [none]* * verification pending L/2018/023/AN Road Code Article 25 esablishes penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol characterized by the presence in the breath or blood of a level of alcohol set by regulation.
Guinea-Bisseau 0.50 [none]   Judicial Police, Transport sector regulation Art 21
Guyana 0.80 0.35   Evidence and Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act 2008
Haiti [none] [none] Drink driving is a punishable offense, but no BAC or BrAC limits are defined. Roads Code 2006 Art 44
Honduras [none]* [none]* * verification pending
Driving after consumption of intoxicating beverages is a serious offense.		 Road Traffic Law 2005 Art 98 Sec 16, Decree 155 of 2015 Law on Land Transportation
Hungary [none] [none] A zero tolerance approach 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, 203-205
Indonesia [none] [none]   Road Traffic Act 2009 Art 106(1)
Iran, Islamic Republic of [none] [none]   [n/a]
Iraq [none] [none]   [n/a]
Ireland  0.50 0.22 BAC 0.20 / BrAC 0.09 for professional, learner and novice drivers (aged 18-25 or within two years of first being issues a license) Road Traffic Act Part 2
Israel 0.50 0.24 BAC 0.10 and BrAC 0.05 for new drivers, drivers under 24 years of age, commercial drivers, drivers of public vehicles Road Safety Authority, Regulations: Driving under the influence of alcohol (webpage accessed 2025)
Italy 0.50 [none] BAC 0.00 for or young drivers aged under 21 and commercial drivers, drivers of vehicles over 3.5 tons Highway Code 2024 Articles 186 & 186bis
Jamaica 0.80 0.35 BrAC 0.10 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   Road Traffic Act Art 65
Jordan 0.50*     * [archiving pending]
Kazakhstan [none] [none]   Road Traffic Act Art 54
Kenya 0.80 0.35 BAC and BrAC 0.0 for drivers of public service vehicles, commercial service vehicles, or school transport service vehicles Cap 403 Traffic Act Sec 44
Traffic (Amendment) Act 2022
Traffic (Drunk Driving) Rules 2023
[under review in 2025]
Kiribati 0.50 [none] BrAC 0.0 for learner, bus or commercial drivers  Traffic Act 2017 Division Two
Korea, Democratic People's Republic of [none] [none]    
Korea, Republic of 0.30 [none]   Road Traffic Act 1961 Art 44
Kuwait [none] [none]   [n/a]
Kyrgyzstan [none] [none]   [n/a]
Lao, People's Democratic Republic 0.80* 0.24* * verification pending
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 25, 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 Sec 93
Liberia 0.16 [none]   Vehicle and Traffic Law 1972 Art 10.91
Libya [none] [none]   [n/a]
Liechtenstein 0.80 [none]   Road Traffic Act (SVG) 1978 Art 29, 51, 86
Road Traffic Regulations (1978) Sec 1 Art 2
Lithuania 0.40 [none] BAC 0.0 for novice drivers, (within the first two years of obtaining a license), drivers of commercial vehicles, vehicles exceeding 3.5t or 9 seats, and vehicles carrying hazardous goods Road Traffic Safety Law, Road Traffic Regulations
Code of Administrative Violations Art 422
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 the influence of alcohol is an offense. 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 Transport Act 1987 Sec 44-45
Road Transport (Amendment) Act 2020
Maldives [none] [none]   [n/a]
Mali 0.50 0.25   Law No. 2023-045 of August 31, 2023 governing road traffic Art 8 
Decree No. 2023-0509/PT-RM Art 106, 114-115
Order No. 2024-4074/MSDS-SG
Malta 0.50 0.22
BAC 0.2 / BrAC 0.09 for commercial and novice drivers
BAC 0.0 / BrAC 0.00 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 Art 303
Mauritania [none] [none]   [n/a]
Mauritius 0.20 0.09   Road Traffic Act 2003 Art 123F
Road Traffic Amendment Act 2018 Art 3
Mexico ≤0.50 ≤0.25 Limits at state level may be below this federal requirement.     
BAC/BrAC 0.0 for drivers of public transport or cargo vehicles		 General Law on Mobility and Road Safety 2024 Art 8
General Health Law 1984 Chapter II Bis
Micronesia, Federated States of [varies by state]   Chuuk: none found
Kosrae: none found
Pohnpei: none found
Yap: BAC 0.08		 Chuuk State Law 2-95-18 Motor Vehicle Code §705. 
Kosrae Title 13 Offenses and Penalties §13.710 
Pohnpei Title 71 Traffic and Motor Vehicle Law §12-105
Yap Title 25 Motor Vehicles and Highways §704
Moldova, Republic of 0.30 [none] 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 novice drivers (below age 24 or having less than 12 months of driving experience) Law on Road Traffic Safety 2021 Art 182-182a
Montserrat [none] [none]   Road Traffic Act 2008 Art 47
Morocco 0.20 0.10   Law 5205 Highway Code 2010 Art 183
Joint order of the Minister of Equipment and Transport and the Minister of Health No.2707-10
Mozambique 0.60 0.30 BAC and BrAC 0.00 for public transport and dangerous cargo drivers Road Traffic Act 2011 Art 81
Law No. 24/2019 Penal Code Revision Law Art 230 
Myanmar 0.80*   * verification pending  
Namibia 0.79 0.37   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 2020 Sec 11
Nicaragua 0.50 [none] BAC 0.20 for drivers of vehicles transporting passengers, cargo, or hazardous materials Law 856 of 2014 Reforms to Law 431 Vehicle Circulation and Traffic Offenses Art 24, 26-27
Niger [none] [none]   [n/a]
Nigeria 0.50     Act 22/2007 Federal Road Safety Commission (Establishment) Art 22
Niue 0.80 0.04   Transport Act 1965 Sec 45AA as amended through 2006
North Macedonia 0.53    BAC 0.10 for drivers under 21 years of age and commercial drivers  Law on Road Safety 2015 Art 228 
Norway 0.20 0.10 Penalties are graduated by BAC Road Traffic Act Sec 22
Oman [none] [none] Driving under the influence of alcohol is prohibited. Traffic Law 2005 Art 35, 50
Palau 0.11 0.05   Title 42 Vehicles Sec 514, 608 
Pakistan [none] [none]   [n/a]
Panama 0.50 0.25 Penalties are graduated by BAC / BrAC Executive Decree 640-2006 Regulation of Road Traffic Safety Art 141
 [under comprehensive review in April 2025]
Papua New Guinea 0.40 [none] BAC 0.25 mg/mL for holder of a prescribed type of driver's permit or licence Road Traffic Act 2013 Sec 42
Road Traffic (Offences and Penalties) Regulation 2017 
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 Art 307
Penal Code Article 274
Philippines 0.50 [none] BAC 0.00 for drivers of trucks, buses, motorcycles and public utility vehicles Rules and regulations of the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act 2013 Rule 1 Section 3g
Poland 0.20 0.10   Criminal Code Art 42 Sec 2 
Act on Upbringing in Sobriety and Counteracting Alcoholism Art 46
Portugal 0.50 0.22 BAC 0.20 / BrAC 0.09 for commercial drivers and novice drivers (in the 3 years since first obtaining a license) Highway Code Art 5, 87
Qatar [none] [none]   Traffic Law N. 19/2007 Chapter IV Art 57
Romania [none] [none] A zero tolerance approach is in place.
BrAC of 0.40 or higher requires undergoing laboratory BAC testing;
BAC >0.80 incurs criminal sanctions		 Government Emergency Ordinance 195/2002 on Public Roads
Law 286/2009 Penal Code Art 336
Russian Federation 0.30 0.16   Resolution of 21.10.2022 No. 1882 On the procedure for examination for the state of alcohol intoxication...
Rwanda 0.80* [none] * verification pending 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]* * verification pending
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 Art 40
Sao Tome and Principe 1.2 [none] ​Art 348 establishes penalties for driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, but does not define the term.
Art 349 establishes penalties for driving a vehicle with a BAC equal to or greater than 1.2 g/l.		 Law 6-2012 Penal Code
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 (on probationary license) Law on Road Traffic Safety 2010 Art 187
Seychelles 0.80 0.40   Road Transport Act Art 24(k)
Road Transport (Sober Driving) Regulations 1995
Sierra Leone 0.80 0.35   Road Traffic Act 2007 Art 102, 108
Singapore 0.80 0.35   Road Traffic Act Sec 67-68 and 71
Slovakia [none] [none] A zero tolerance approach is in place. Law N.8/2009 Road Traffic Art 1 Part I Sec 4.2
Slovenia 0.53 0.24 BAC 0.00 for novice and professional drivers Law on Road Traffic Rules 2013 Art 23-24, 105
Solomon Islands 0.50 [none]   Police and Transport Legislation Amendment Alcohol Testing Act 2016
Somalia [none] [none]   [n/a]
South Africa 0.50 0.24 BAC 0.20 / BrAC 0.10 for professional drivers National Road Traffic Act Sec 65
South Sudan [none] [none]   Traffic Act 2003 Sec 45
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 Decree 6-2015 Revision of Road Traffic, Motor Vehicle and Road Safety Law, Art 14 and Annex II 
Royal Decree 1428-2003 Chapter IV Art 20
Sri Lanka <0.80*   * verificaiton pending Motor Traffic Act 1979 Sec 151
​Motor Traffic (Alcohol and Drugs) Regulations 1979
Sudan [none] [none]   [n/a]
Suriname 0.50 0.22   Driving Act 1971 Art 3.1
Sweden 0.20 0.10   Act 649 Code of Statutes Sec 4
Switzerland 0.50 0.25 BAC 0.10  for professional drivers and novice drivers (on a learner's permit); Federal Law on Road Traffic and Regulations
See Swiss Confederation and Cantons’ Service overview (2025)
Syrian Arab Republic [none] [none]   [n/a]
Tajikistan [none] [none] Driving while intoxicated is an offense, but no BAC is specified. Road Traffic Law Art 30
Tanzania, United Republic of 0.80 [none] BAC 0.00 for professional drivers Road Traffic Act 1973  ​Art 46-49
Thailand 0.50 [none] BAC 0.20 for drivers below 20 years of age holding temporary license; for professional drivers of automobiles, tractors and specialized land vehicles Land Traffic Act 1979 Sec 43, and Regulations 2537 and 21
Timor L'Este 0.50 0.22   Decree Law 6/2003 Highway Code Sec 75
Decree Law 19/2009 Penal Code Art 208
Togo 0.50*   * verification pending Decree No. 2022-085/PR Implemention rules for Law No. 2013-011 Road Code
Tonga [none] 0.25   Traffic Act 2020 Art 29, 33
Traffic (Alcohol Breath Tests) Notice 2023
Trinidad and Tobago 0.80 0.35   Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act 2007 Art 70A-G
Tunisia 0.30 [none] BAC 0.0 for drivers in training and commercial/professional drivers Road Code
Decree 2016-292
Turkey 0.50 [none] BAC 0.20 for commercial drivers Law 2918 on Road Traffic Art 48
Road Traffic Regulations Art 97
Turkmenistan [none] [none]   Code of Administrative Offences Art 222, 524
Tuvalu 0.80 [none]   Traffic Act 1952 Artcile 23
Uganda 0.50 0.25 BAC 0.2 / BrAC 0.1 for commercial and professional drivers Traffic and Road Safety Act 1998 Sec 112-113
Traffic and Road Safety (Prohibited Drugs and Alcohol Limit) Regulations 2023
Ukraine 0.21 [none]   Code of Administrative Offenses Art 130, 26
Order No.1452/735 09.11.2015 II.7 
United Arab Emirates [none] [none] Driving under the influence of alcohol is prohibited. Federal Decree-Law No. (14) of 2024 On Traffic Regulation Art 31, 35
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 of America 0.80* [none] *BAC 0.50 in Utah 
BAC 0.20 or lower [varies by state] for drivers under 21 years of age;
BAC 0.40 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 Art 45
Law Reducing the Legal Blood Alcohol Concentration in Drivers 2015
Uzbekistan [none] [none] Driving in a state of intoxication or under the influence of alcohol is an offence. Code of Administrative Offences Art 131
Road Traffic Regualations 2022 Art 12
Vanuatu [none] [none] Driving "under the influence of alcoholic liquor or a drug to such an extent that the driver is incapable of properly controlling his vehicle" is an offense. Road Traffic Act Cap 29 Art 16
Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 0.80 [none]   Land Transport Law Art 94 
Regulation of the Land Transport Law Art 416
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 Art 8
Yemen [none] [none] A zero tolerance approach is in place. Republican Decree Law No. 64 of 1991 regarding the Traffic Law Art 58
Zambia 0.80     The Roads and Road Traffic Act 2002 Art 198-198B
Highway Code Art 111
Zimbabwe 0.80 [none]   Chapter 13:11 Road Traffic Act Art 54-55

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