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BLOOD ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION (BAC) LIMITS (last updated January 2012)Defining BACA person’s BAC level measures the amount of alcohol in the blood, by recording themilligrams of ethanol per milliliters of blood. Most countries around the world havelegal BAC limits, ranging from 0.0 mg/ml to 0.8 mg/ml with different penaltiesapplying for breaking the law. In some countries, lower BAC limits are set for young,inexperienced drivers and/or for operators of commercial vehicles.BAC levels are affected by how much alcohol has been drunk, the speed of drinkingand over what period of time. An individual’s weight, gender, health, and food intakealso affect the absorption and metabolism of alcohol, making an estimation of howmuch it is safe to drink before driving risky.Legal limits are set as a person’s risk of being involved in a traffic crash increases withthe amount of alcohol consumed as reactions slow down. Involvement in fatal crashesis 11 times more likely for drivers with BAC levels between 0.5 mg/ml and 0.9 mg/ml,compared with drivers who have not consumed alcohol, hence the recommendation tonominate a non drinking ‘designated driver’ or to plan other ways of getting homesafely when drinking.Special legislation or BAC regulations are set nationally, at company level orinternationally for operators of commercial vehicles, airline pilots, buses, truck, andtaxi drivers, as well as for captains of ships for example. In some countries, BAC limitsapply to operators of bicycles, snowmobiles, personal aircraft and boats.TABLE 1: STANDARD BAC LIMITSCountryStandard BAC (in mg/ml)Albania0.1Algeria0.1Argentina0.5 (0.02% for motorbikes, 0.00% for n Capital TerritoryZero for drivers and motorcyclists holding a learner,provisional, restricted or probationary licence and fordrivers operating heavy vehicles over 15t GVM or driving apublic vehicle for hire or reward (for example taxi and busdrivers).0.05% for all other drivers and motorcyclists
CountryStandard BAC (in mg/ml)New South WalesZero for Learner and Provisional licences0.02% for Drivers of vehicles of "gross vehicle mass"greater than 13.9 tonnes, vehicles carrying dangerousgoods or public vehicles such as a taxi or bus.0.05% for all other driversNorthern TerritoryZero for provisional (probationary) licence holders.0.05% for all other drivers.QueenslandA Zero limit applies to the drivers of trucks, buses,articulated vehicles, vehicles carrying dangerous goods,pilot vehicles, taxis, all learner drivers and provisionaldrivers.0.05% for other drivers.South AustraliaZero limit for learner, provisional, probationary, heavy(greater than 15 tonne) vehicle, taxis, licensed chauffeuredvehicles, dangerous goods, and bus licenses.0.05% for all other drivers.TasmaniaZero limit for learner, provisional, truck, bus, and taxilicences.0.05% for all other drivers.VictoriaZero limit applies for unlicensed drivers, holders of learnerpermits and probationary licences, "professional" drivers,and certain relicensed drunk-drivers.Below 0.05% for most other drivers.Zero limit for methamphetamine, Cannabis and MDMA.Austria0.5 (0.1 for young/novice drivers andprofessional/commercial Belgium0.5Bolivia0.7Bosnia andHerzegovina0.3 (0.0 for bus and truck drivers)Botswana0.8Brazil0.2Bulgaria0.5Cambodia0.5
CountryStandard BAC (in mg/ml)Canada0.8 (new drivers undergo graduated licensing in Ontario,Quebec, Northwest Territories, Manitoba, Alberta,Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Nova Scotia and NewBrunswick; drivers under the age of 22 in Ontario).Chile0.5China0.2Colombia0.0Costa Rica0.49Croatia(Republic of)0.5 (0.0 for bus drivers and youth under 24 years old)Cyprus0.5Czech Republic0.0Denmark0.5DominicanRepublicZero (0.5 for professional drivers)Ecuador0.7Egypt0.5El Salvador0.5Estonia0.2Ethiopia-Finland0.5France0.5 (0.25% for bus drivers)Georgia0.3Germany0.5 (zero for learner drivers, all drivers 18-21 and newlylicensed drivers of any age for first two years of licence, andcommercial drivers)Greece0.5 (0.2 young/ novice drivers driers of less than 2 yearsand commercial drivers)Guatemala0.8Honduras0.7Hong Kong0.5Hungary0.0Iceland0.5India0.3Ireland0.5 (0.2 for learner drivers and professional drivers)Israel0.5Italy0.5 (zero for young, novice (less than 3 years) andprofessional drivers)Japan0.3Kenya0.8Kyrgyzstan0.5Latvia0.4 (0.2 for drivers in their first two years after gaining adriving license)
CountryStandard BAC (in mg/ml)Lithuania0.4 (0.2 for drivers in their first two years after gaining adriving license)Luxembourg0.05% and 0.02% for professional drivers and drivers withless than 2 years of experienceMacedonia0.5Malaysia0.8Maldives,Republic ro0.5Mongolia0.2Nepal0.3TheNetherlands0.5 (0.2 for those obtaining their driving license obtained onor after March 30, 2002)New Zealand0.8 (0.0 if under 20)Nicaragua0.5Norway0.2Panama0.1 - 0.85 (BAC levels between 0.1 - 0.5 merit a warning,between 0.51 – 0.85 a fine, and 0.86 and above a fine plusretention of vehicle)Paraguay0.2 - 0.8 (A BAC between 0.01 and 0.2 is considered a lightoffence, a BAC between 0.21 and 0.8 is considered aserious offence, and a BAC of 0.81 or greater is consider avery serious uerto Rico0.8 (0.2 for young or novice drivers 18-21)Qatar0.0Romania0.0Russia0.0Serbia0.3 0. for all professional/commercial drivers andbeginners)Singapore0.8Slovakia0.0Slovenia0.5 (0.0 for young/ novice drivers (less than 2 years)South Africa0.5 (0.2 for professional drivers)South Korea,Rep of0.52Spain0.5 (0.3 for young/ novice drivers and some commercialdrivers)
CountryStandard BAC (in mg/ml)Sweden0.2Switzerland0.5Thailand0.5Turkey0.5 (0.0 fo professional/ public service nited States0.8 (Drivers under 21, the most common US legal drinkingage, have stricter standards 0.0-0.2). Varying in differentstates, lower BAC levels exist for criminal and/or licensesuspension purposes, commonly 0.1 to 0.5Uruguay0.3 (zero for truck/taxi/bus drivers)Venezuela0.5Zimbabwe0.8
In some countries, BAC limits apply to operators of bicycles, snowmobiles, personal aircraft and boats. TABLE 1: STANDARD BAC LIMITS Country Standard BAC (in mg/ml) Albania 0.1 Algeria 0.1 Argentina 0.5 (0.02% for motorbikes, 0.00% for truck/taxi/bus drivers) Armenia 0.0 Australia Australian Capital Territory Zero for drivers and motorcyclists .
