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Driving Drunk: Legal Limits vary by Country in Europe
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So much a part of touring Europe is enjoying the fine wines and beers one can find there.
One shouldn't, however, enjoy these libations if they happen to be touring in a rental car.
Back home you probably know exactly how much you can drink while remaining under the legal limit for driving. In California where I live, for example, the legal limit is .08 Blood Alcohol Content (BAC). Every time I renew my car registration I get a little chart that tells me I can have three drinks and still be under the limit. Personally, if I'm driving, I never take the chance; I either drink Coke, or cut myself off after one beer.
But in Europe, the laws are different. And, they vary by country. Those same three drinks that are okay to consume in England, for example, will put you behind bars in most other European countries. And, in places like the Czech Republic and Hungary, a single drink will do the trick.
Certainly the best advice is DON'T DRIVE if you are drinking--especially on the unfamiliar roads of a foreign country. If you are dumb enough to do so, here is a short list of legal limits by country. But please, let me know when you're visiting so I can stay off the roads.
0.08 = UK, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta (same as the United States)
0.05 = Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain
0.04 = Lithuania
0.02 = Norway, Poland, Sweden
Zero tolerance = Estonia, Romania, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary
Filed under: Food and Drink, Europe
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Scribetrotter Aug 10th 2007 7:44AM
Unfortunately, drinking and driving in Europe is not so much about the law but about attitude and coolness.
In Britain, it is no longer cool to drink and drive and a designated driver is a must - Britain is the European exception. In France, where I live, no one gives a second thought to drinking and driving - apart from an odd look at the hapless person who might mention it. In fact, on Saturday nights, I refuse to drive, period. If I go out, I make sure I'm home before 10pm, or I spend the night wherever I'm going.
The French have a custom of placing flowers or a small monument or cross along the road whenever someone is killed. I live in a rural region, with small roads and not a lot of traffic, and this is what my road network looks like leaving from my village outwards in various directions.
15 km (9 mi) stretch: two flower arrangements
10 km stretch: one cross, one flower bouquet
15 km stretch: 4 flower arrangements, one cross
10 km stretch: 2 flower arrangements
Usually, each marker is more than one death. None of these were out when I moved here four years ago.
I don't know how many people have to die before the link between drinking and driving has been made here - clearly, more than have so far.
Scribetrotter
http://www.women-on-the-road.com
DE Aug 10th 2007 11:33AM
Australia .05 /QED
drosan Aug 10th 2007 11:58AM
In many parts of Poland they won't even give you a Breathalyzer, it is pretty much zero tolerance (I lived there, and go there each year.) If they smell the slightest hint of alcohol, they'll take you in.
Jon Aug 10th 2007 11:59AM
Where I come from drinking and driving is so unthinkable that anyone who attempts it is usually forcefully stopped by friends/family if needed and stamped as a moron no matter how drunk and out of it they are.
Reading about every other celebrity in US drinking in driving I realize that they have really failed at educating in that field. I believe constant bombardment of very graphic in your face adverts is needed.
Jonathan Aug 10th 2007 11:59AM
You should also bear in mind that European bears tend to be quite a bit strong than those in the US or Canada. For example in the UK a single pint of bitter or lager is enough to get you close to the limit.
John Aug 10th 2007 12:20PM
European bears are stronger that our Grizzly bears? I don't think so.
Brian Aug 10th 2007 12:22PM
One thing not mentioned is that in Europe most people can use mass transit to get downtown or travel around. So if they want to go to the pub for a beer they can hop on a trolley or the subway. In the states unless you live in Chicago or NYC forget about it.
sem Aug 10th 2007 12:25PM
Altough drinking and driving is dangerous, I don't agree with zero tolerance (like in my country - Romania), because I want to go out for dinner, drink a beer or a glass of wine or everything else without getting drunk or even dizzy while being with the car. I think a 0.4 tolerance is optimum and what would be great...a lower speed limit for those who drank something. Sorry for my bad english.
Will Clarke Aug 10th 2007 12:32PM
That is retarded - who is too drunk to drive at .08, let alone .02??? I drive over .08 all the time, it's a bullshit law wherever it is enforced. You should get a ticket for driving poorly, regardless of your level of intoxication.
Otto Aug 10th 2007 12:35PM
Jonathan: While I cannot speak to Canadian beer alcohol levels, I'm quite knowledgable about beer in both the USA and Europe, and I'm sorry, but you're just wrong.
Yes, the most popular beer in America is the American Style Light Lager, however, this variety generally comes in alcohol ranges of either 3.5% or 5%, depending on location. Microbrews are generally stronger, from 4% up to 9% or sometimes higher. Other large scale specialty brews tend to be in the 7% area.
The most popular European bitters are the session or ordinary bitters, which actually includes British IPAs. These *rarely* go above 4.1%. Your best bitters will be up to 4.7% and ESBs and such will go above 4.8%, but rarely beyond 7%. The most commonplace beers drank in Europe are not above 4.1%.
However, the "pint" is larger over there. The most common serving size in Europe is around the 500 mL range (regional fluctuation and laws make this vary a lot). In the USA, the most common serving is 375 mL (12 oz can equivalent). The 500 mL serving size is closer to generally what you'd get for draft beer instead of canned or bottled, which usually means a stronger beer.
In short, the USA generally has stronger beer. Not better beer, but definitely higher in alcohol by volume.
Kal Aug 10th 2007 12:43PM
I think zero tolerance is fine, in Estonia it's much safer than before, but some are still too stubborn. I've been controlled four times in a period of about a year, in Switzerland you never see a cop pointing a breathalyser to your face. Alcohol is a legal drug, use it in your private time, but in no circumstances should you put the lives of others in danger, even if only 0.1%.
Adam Aug 10th 2007 12:58PM
Croatia is also a zero tolerance country. However, I have seen cops in a bar drinking a glass of wine while on duty.
TheOffice Aug 10th 2007 1:15PM
I wish America had a zero tolerance. That'd be nice. In fact, why should America have alcohol at all? What purpose does it serve? I'm all for the blue law and outlawing alcohol of any kind.
Antje Wilsch Aug 10th 2007 1:38PM
In Germany, we assign drivers (even though many still drive after drinking) but the fines are very stiff and it's very easy to lose your license, and very difficult to re-obtain it if you lose it (and very expensive). Driving is considered a privilege not as much a right and is treated with respect (for the most part)
Antje
http://www.storyofmylife.com /
Fabula Aug 10th 2007 1:40PM
Otto: You are right with the percentages of bitters in europe, but most people drink lagers or wheat beers. Generally available lagers are usually around 5% in the uk (stella, bitburger etc) and wheat beers can be stronger.
A standard drink in the UK is 1 pint, or 568ml. Other countries have 500ml, or in places like Spain they serve drinks in a normal size glass or maybe 200ml.
Working out whether you are legally safe to drive would be hard enough when sober, so just don't drink and drive.
Sinisa Dukaric Aug 10th 2007 2:30PM
FYI: Zero tolerance in Croatia too ...
mike Aug 10th 2007 2:34PM
wait a minute, lets back up a step here, in different countries, they have... different laws? i don't get it, sounds to me like bush needs to drop a few more bombs and smarten these people in this so called "europe" up. GO AMERICA, YAY BASEBALL HOTDOGS AND IGNORANCE
Truthy Aug 10th 2007 2:54PM
So glad I don't like in Poland, Croatia or any other of these wheat farms mentioned, where people call Beers "bears"...
Enzo Aug 10th 2007 5:12PM
There's a difference between having a few drinks and being wasted out of your mind.
You can crash and kill someone while talking on the cellphone, playing w/ the radio or reaching for something in the car.
Idiots who drive totally wasted should be locked up. But you shouldn't get a DUI for having a few drinks.
You can be dead tired and a worse driver than someone who's had 3 drinks.
josephchin1 Aug 10th 2007 9:34PM
mike, it would be fair to assume that the countries had similar rules on drinking. Countries in the EC (European Community) have standardized rules on taxes, measurements, and even road rules. Except for England and Ireland(perhaps) all the road signage is the same. And last year some of the English were in a stink because merchants had to use european measures instead of english ones. A pint is 500mL instead of 568 now. VAT is 17.5%, but countries can increase that. And just recently, they passed a bill limiting the maximum rate your cellphone company can charge you for roaming in the eurozone.