Europe-wide comparison

Alcohol limits by country

Compare stated blood-alcohol limits for standard, novice and professional drivers. A lower category-specific limit may apply.

CountryRule summarySource
Albania Standard 0.5 mg/ml · novice Not stated in the standardized source · professional 0.5 mg/ml Official source ↗
Andorra Standard 0.5 mg/ml · novice 0.5 mg/ml · professional 0.0 mg/mlZero applies to goods vehicles over 3.5 t, passenger transport and emergency services; no separate novice limit. Official source ↗
Austria Standard < 0.5 mg/ml · novice 0.1 mg/ml · professional 0.1 mg/ml Official source ↗
Belarus Standard 0.3 mg/ml · novice Not stated in the standardized source · professional Not stated in the standardized source Official source ↗
Belgium Standard 0.5 mg/ml · novice 0.5 mg/ml · professional 0.2 mg/ml Official source ↗
Bosnia & Herzegovina Standard 0.3 mg/ml · novice 0.0 mg/ml · professional 0.0 mg/mlZero tolerance for drivers under 21 or with under 3 years of experience, C/D categories and professional drivers. Official source ↗
Bulgaria Standard 0.5 mg/ml · novice 0.5 mg/ml · professional 0.5 mg/ml Official source ↗
Croatia Standard 0.5 mg/ml · novice 0.0 mg/ml · professional 0.0 mg/ml Official source ↗
Cyprus Standard 0.5 mg/ml · novice 0.2 mg/ml · professional 0.2 mg/ml Official source ↗
Czechia Standard 0.0 mg/ml · novice 0.0 mg/ml · professional 0.0 mg/ml Official source ↗
Denmark Standard 0.5 mg/ml · novice 0.5 mg/ml · professional 0.5 mg/ml Official source ↗
Estonia Standard 0.2 mg/ml · novice 0.2 mg/ml · professional 0.2 mg/ml Official source ↗
Finland Standard 0.5 mg/ml · novice 0.5 mg/ml · professional 0.5 mg/ml Official source ↗
France Standard 0.5 mg/ml · novice 0.2 mg/ml · professional 0.5 mg/mlA 0.2 mg/ml limit applies to bus and coach drivers. Official source ↗
Germany Standard 0.5 mg/ml · novice 0.0 mg/ml · professional 0.0 mg/ml Official source ↗
Greece Standard 0.5 mg/ml · novice 0.2 mg/ml · professional 0.2 mg/ml Official source ↗
Hungary Standard 0.0 mg/ml · novice 0.0 mg/ml · professional 0.0 mg/ml Official source ↗
Iceland Standard 0.5 mg/ml · novice Not stated in the standardized source · professional Not stated in the standardized source Official source ↗
Ireland Standard 0.5 mg/ml · novice 0.2 mg/ml · professional 0.5 mg/ml Official source ↗
Italy Standard 0.5 mg/ml · novice 0.0 mg/ml · professional 0.0 mg/ml Official source ↗
Kosovo Standard 0.5 mg/ml · novice 0.0 mg/ml · professional 0.0 mg/mlZero tolerance for new and beginner drivers, C/D categories, driving instructors and professional B-category drivers. Official source ↗
Latvia Standard 0.5 mg/ml · novice 0.2 mg/ml · professional 0.5 mg/ml Official source ↗
Liechtenstein Standard 0.8 mg/ml · novice 0.8 mg/ml · professional 0.8 mg/mlProfessional drivers must not consume alcohol during working hours or in the 6 hours before starting work. Official source ↗
Lithuania Standard 0.4 mg/ml · novice 0.0 mg/ml · professional 0.0 mg/ml Official source ↗
Luxembourg Standard 0.5 mg/ml · novice 0.2 mg/ml · professional 0.2 mg/ml Official source ↗
Malta Standard 0.5 mg/ml · novice 0.5 mg/ml · professional 0.0 mg/ml Official source ↗
Moldova Standard 0.3 mg/ml · novice Not stated in the standardized source · professional Not stated in the standardized sourceContraventional liability from 0.3 g/l in blood (0.15 mg/l breath); criminal liability above 0.7 g/l. Official source ↗
Monaco Standard 0.5 mg/ml · novice Not stated in the standardized source · professional Not stated in the standardized source Official source ↗
Montenegro Standard 0.3 mg/ml · novice Not stated in the standardized source · professional Not stated in the standardized source Official source ↗
Netherlands Standard 0.5 mg/ml · novice 0.2 mg/ml · professional 0.5 mg/ml Official source ↗
North Macedonia Standard 0.5 mg/ml · novice 0.09 mg/ml · professional 0.09 mg/ml Official source ↗
Norway Standard 0.2 mg/ml · novice 0.2 mg/ml · professional 0.2 mg/ml Official source ↗
Poland Standard < 0.2 mg/ml · novice < 0.2 mg/ml · professional < 0.2 mg/ml Official source ↗
Portugal Standard 0.5 mg/ml · novice 0.2 mg/ml · professional 0.2 mg/ml Official source ↗
Romania Standard 0.0 mg/ml · novice 0.0 mg/ml · professional 0.0 mg/ml Official source ↗
Russia Standard 0.3 mg/ml · novice Not stated in the standardized source · professional Not stated in the standardized sourceDefined in the administrative code as 0.3 g per litre of blood or 0.16 mg per litre of exhaled air. Official source ↗
San Marino Standard 0.5 mg/ml · novice 0.0 mg/ml · professional Not stated in the standardized sourceZero tolerance for drivers licensed under 3 years and drivers under 18. Official source ↗
Serbia Standard 0.2 mg/ml · novice 0.0 mg/ml · professional 0.0 mg/mlZero tolerance also applies to all motorcycle and moped riders. Official source ↗
Slovakia Standard 0.0 mg/ml · novice 0.0 mg/ml · professional 0.0 mg/ml Official source ↗
Slovenia Standard ≈ 0.5 mg/ml · novice 0.0 mg/ml · professional 0.0 mg/mlThe official source states 0.5 g/kg of blood; the displayed mg/ml value is an approximate normalization. Official source ↗
Spain Standard 0.5 mg/ml · novice 0.3 mg/ml · professional 0.3 mg/ml Official source ↗
Sweden Standard 0.2 mg/ml · novice 0.2 mg/ml · professional 0.2 mg/ml Official source ↗
Switzerland Standard 0.5 mg/ml · novice 0.1 mg/ml · professional 0.1 mg/ml Official source ↗
Türkiye Standard 0.5 mg/ml · novice Not stated in the standardized source · professional 0.2 mg/mlThe 0.2 mg/ml limit applies to drivers of vehicles other than private cars. Official source ↗
Ukraine Standard 0.2 mg/ml · novice Not stated in the standardized source · professional Not stated in the standardized source Official source ↗
United Kingdom Standard 0.8 mg/ml · novice 0.8 mg/ml · professional 0.8 mg/mlScotland applies a lower 0.5 mg/ml limit for all drivers. Official source ↗

This is a planning summary, not legal advice. Road signs and current national rules take priority. Always check the linked official source before departure.