With the festive season quickly approaching, many of us will be celebrating the year’s end with parties, visiting Christmas markets, and escaping on last-minute winter holidays, all of which can often involve drinking.

Drink driving is dangerous, and the consequences are numerous; they also vary across the world.

The best advice is not to drink any alcohol at all if you are to drive.

Oiling the wheels

Travelling is one of the most rewarding activities you can do in life.

With that said, it’s also important to spend time researching the country you are visiting.

For instance, travelers should understand what types of activities are available in the area, any vaccinations needed, the culture and customs of the country, and maybe even learn a few essential words, such as thank you.

The more prepared you are, the less likely that something unexpected will happen and, if it does, you will be better equipped to deal with it.

One aspect many people forget to research if they’re going to be driving abroad is the legal alcohol limits of the country in question.

It is also interesting to see how our own laws compare to other countries.

Discovercars.com have toured the nations to reveal the different approaches to the problems of drink drivers.

Just say no

The safest and best advice is to avoid alcohol completely if you have to drive.

This is because alcohol slows down our reaction times and even tiny amounts can impair judgment.

Alcohol also slows down the brain, which affects our reasoning and self-control.

Drivers may feel a false sense of confidence when under the influence of alcohol and lose their inhibitions, meaning they are more likely to take risks.

Although the rate at which alcohol is removed from the bloodstream is roughly 0.015g/100mll per hour, alcohol can still show up in a blood test for up to 12 hours.

Globe and goblet

DiscoverCars.com has put together a guide on the world’s legal drink-driving limits, country by country, to ensure people stay safe while enjoying the festivities.

In the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the legal BAC limit for the general population is 0.08%.

However, in Scotland, the upper BAC limit is slightly lower, at 0.05%, in line with much of Europe.

Getting caught over the legal limit can be expensive wherever you are, with punishments ranging from fines to losing your licence or even a prison sentence.

Not soft

In Andorra, they’ll issue a fine if they catch you driving with BAC levels beyond the allowable limit:

BAC levels

Fine

From 0.05% to 0.08%

€150

From 0.081% to 0.12%

€300

Above 0.12%

€600 and suspension of license for 3 months

Refusal to undergo a BAC test in Andorra will result in a fine of €300 and suspension of your licence for three months.
In Albania, if the level of alcohol in the bloodstream exceeds what is allowed, which is a BAC of 0.05%, a fine between €20 and €81will be enforced, and you’ll have your driving licence suspended from six to 12 months.

If the driver refuses to take a test for the presence of alcohol in the blood, a fine between €41 and €162 will be imposed, and they will also suspend the individual’s driving licence for six to 12 months.

Furthermore, in Croatia violating the law in regards to driving and alcohol will get you a penalty based on the alcohol amount in your blood. BAC levels beyond the allowable will be fined accordingly in Croatia:

BAC levels

Fine

From 0.5% to 0.10%

€140 to €275

From 0.10% to 0.15%

€275 to €700

Above 0.15%

€700 to €2070

 

Heading south

Similarly, in New Zealand, those who are caught driving while under the influence of alcohol will lose their licence for six months, receive a large fine and gain a criminal record in the country.

It’s essential to remember that the BAC limit in New Zealand is 0.05%.

In India, the legal BAC limit is 0.03%, and punishment for drunk driving depends on whether this is your first or second offence.

If this is your first offence, you will be punished by six months in prison, a € 119 fine, or both.

If your second offence is committed within three years, the punishment is two years, a fine of €7,481, or both.

In South Africa, the legal BAC is less than 0.05%, and being caught drunk driving means you’ll be liable to pay for the drunk driving charges, which are up to €7,482.

Drunk driving cases in South Africa are widespread, and the law has become stricter.

A drunk driving case law in South Africa can now be punishable by up to six years in jail.

The Americas

Moreover, in Brazil, any BAC that is below 0.06% results in a fine. This is doubled if there is a recurrence plus a 12-month licence suspension. However, anything above this is considered a criminal offence.

The next South American country to cover is Chile, where a 0.03 to 0.08% BAC means ‌the driver is considered to be driving under the influence and carries a three-month driving suspension and a fine of €74 to €372. A BAC level of over 0.08% carries a prison term of 61 to 301 days, a fine of €148 to €744, a two-year suspension for the first offence, a five-year suspension for a second offence, and a life-long suspension for a third offence.

Asian surprise

In Malaysia, if you are suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol, you must pay a fine not exceeding €430 and a prison sentence of no longer than six months.

Both Malaysian drivers and tourists are expected to adhere to these rules.

Another Asian country with surprising drink-driving laws is the Philippines, where drivers who are suspected of doing so have to conduct sobriety tests.

If a driver refuses a field sobriety test, their driving licence will be confiscated.

European tour

Additionally, in Turkey, if you are found to be drunk driving, your license will be suspended, and you will be fined, depending on whether it is your first, second, or third drunk driving offence, starting at €141.

In Finland, the penalty for driving while under the influence of alcohol is a fine or jail for up to six months with a suspension of your licence from one month to five years.

France, and a €135 fine and six demerit points on the driver’s licence are enforced when an individual is found to be driving under the influence of alcohol, which can be suspended for up to three years.

In Greece, driving is prohibited if your BAC is over 0.05%.

This is considered a flagrant misdemeanour punishable by up to two years of imprisonment, a hefty fine in court, and the revocation of the driver’s licence for six months.

However, the Greek traffic police permit routine breath testing without probable cause, especially on weekends and major holidays.

It may be surprising to some, but in the Netherlands, educational measures or rehabilitation courses are handed out when disobeying the law, and they are compulsory.

The LEMA (Light Educational Measure Alcohol and Traffic) consists of two half-days of 3.5 hours each.

LEMA is intended for drivers with a BAC between 0.8% and 1.0%.

Blighty blows

Finally, in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the legal BAC limit for the general population is 0.08%.

The maximum sentence for “being in charge of a vehicle while above the legal limit or unfit through drink” is a €2,987 fine, a three-month prison sentence, or a driving ban.

However, it is important to note that in Scotland, the upper BAC limit is 0.05%.

The maximum sentence in the United Kingdom for “driving or attempting to drive while above the legal limit or unfit through drink” is six months imprisonment, an unlimited fine, or a driving ban for at least one year (three years if convicted twice in 10 years).

Zero tolerance

The following countries have zero tolerance for driving while under the influence of alcohol for the general population: Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brazil, Gambia, Hungary, Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Senegal, Slovakia, Tajikistan, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.

The following countries have a zero-tolerance toward driving while under the influence of alcohol for young/novice drivers: Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Gambia, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Other countries that have zero tolerance for young/novice drivers who drive while under the influence of alcohol are Italy, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, Montenegro, Nepal, New Zealand, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Senegal, Serbia, Slovakia, Tajikistan, the Republic of North Macedonia, Tunisia, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.