The drink drive limit
There are strict alcohol limits for drivers, but it’s impossible to say exactly how many drinks this equals - it’s different for each person.
The limits in Scotland are different to the rest of the UK.
| Level of alcohol | England, Wales and Northern Ireland | Scotland |
|---|---|---|
| Micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath | 35 | 22 |
| Milligrammes per 100 millilitres of blood | 80 | 50 |
| Milligrammes per 100 millilitres of urine | 107 | 67 |
There are strict drink driving penalties if you are caught over the limit.
You cannot drive anywhere in the UK if you’ve been banned by any UK court because of drink driving.
The way alcohol affects you depends on:
- your weight, age, sex and metabolism (the rate your body uses energy)
- the type and amount of alcohol you’re drinking
- what you’ve eaten recently
- your stress levels at the time