In France, everyone has breathalyzers, in Armenia you can’t even drive after kvass, and in the Dominican Republic I don’t want to drink: how different countries relate to alcohol while driving

Not so long ago, I was interested in information regarding the tightening and easing of punishments for crimes committed “under the degree” in different countries.

When I was wooling the Internet, I always came across sources telling exactly about “drunken accidents”. So I learned that in China, for the death of at least one person through the fault of a drunk driver, the court sentences to death.

As a result, it turned out that there are countries where the punishment for a crime committed in such a state is toughened, and in some states they can reduce the term or even exempt from liability!

Now I’m terribly curious, are there any states where you can drive a car while being a little drunk? Is there any limit?

In general – in which countries you can drink a little before driving a car and why

The sources talk about the limits of ppm. In this country – so much, in another – that’s how much! To me, like to many, these ppm say nothing. Give me in “glasses”, in “glasses” or in grams, after all! But not everything is so simple, this indicator comes from criteria such as:

  • who you are? man Woman;
  • how much do you weigh;
  • How long has it been since drinking alcohol?

Many thanks to the Ukrainian site of researchers for the comparative picture indicating grams for women and men! Here, I leave it here:

This is 0,2 ppm. Since I will indicate in the future where and how much you can drink in this size, you can now imagine it!

So, now the countries as a whole, where a little bit is possible:

  • Israel;
  • Belgium;
  • Croatia;
  • Finland;
  • Iceland;
  • Luxembourg;
  • Thailand;
  • SOUTH AFRICA;
  • Portugal;
  • Serbia;
  • Bulgaria;
  • Costa Rica;
  • Austria;
  • Switzerland;
  • Hong Kong (just don’t kill anyone);
  • Italy;
  • Greece;
  • Denmark;
  • Peru;
  • Mexico;
  • Malaysia (strange, a Muslim country);
  • Ireland (it’s clear with them);
  • Singapore (Muslims);
  • Malta;
  • New Zealand;
  • Ecuador;
  • Honduras;
  • Bolivia;
  • USA and Canada are just some states;
  • South Korea, but if you get caught drunk more than three times in five years, you will be arrested.

I will give all sources at the end of the text.

Such concessions are associated either with the liberalization of legislation in some countries of Europe, Africa and Asia, or with traditions in terms of cuisine (Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, which are famous for their wines).

Germany and France

It would seem that it is a sin for a German not to miss a glass of Bavarian, and for a Frenchman – champagne or wine. However, it turned out that the norms in these countries, although the same, but the nuances are different. So let’s talk separately about France and Germany.

Don’t drink on weekends. If the rights are taken away, then it will be a catastrophe. As far as I remember, public transport in Germany is a very expensive pleasure.

So. The Germans have a limit of 0,5 ppm (do not forget to look at the picture, we calculate how much it is). The Germans have an e-point system. 8 such points are typed – everything, goodbye, right! Each penalty unit is paid off after two and a half years of successful driving.

France. You also need to take a breathalyzer with you, here it is a mandatory item for a car owner and a motorcyclist since 2012!

In France, it is also interesting, although the limit is similar to Germany – no more than 0,5. A driver who became a car owner less than 2 years ago should focus on the mark of 0,2 ppm.

If the limits are significantly exceeded, they can be fined 4 euros or even imprisoned for 500 years with deprivation of rights for three years.

Italy and Spain

For them, wine is everything. I think for the average Spaniard or Italian to have a drink and drive is in the order of things. What does the law say?

“Well, in general they drink and drive, but be careful,” it reminds me of something …

The limit of both these countries is 0,5. In Italy, for exceeding the limit (above 0,8 ppm), a fine of 500-1300 euros may threaten, in Spain – 400. This is about 400 grams of wine for men and half as much for women.

Italian courts, as noted by a travel blogger, often take the side of the defendant, ignoring the testimony of breathalyzers, but this is not a reason to drink. If you fail to charm the judge, then even for not very gross violations, a decent fine is due.

USA

In the US, penalties vary from state to state. This is typical for America not only in terms of traffic rules: in some zones there is the highest measure, in others there is not, and about the same song with the circulation of firearms.

That’s it! We have more in common with the Americans than we think

In general, the limit is 0,8%%. This is a fairly liberal indicator, although if you knock someone down in this form, then the law becomes more severe.

Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan

In the south of the former USSR, there is also cuisine, traditions, wine, chacha, and so on. I found a site, as I understand it, for car tourists. I see Azerbaijan – no more than 0,3 ppm without comments – this is a fairly strict threshold.

The greener, the more severe the ban. It is said everywhere about Great Britain (the reddest one) that a total tightening is already being prepared there.

Armenia insists on a solid and round zero, you can’t drink and drive at all! Local authorities will absolutely not care if you drink kvass, and you will have at least 0,05. I did not expect from Armenia, of course – the country is Orthodox, but you can’t drink.

Georgia is more tolerant, they now also have 0,3 without any nuances.

Russia, Belarus and Ukraine

What about the “Brotherly Troika” of the Slavs? In Ukraine, the threshold is 0,2, now it’s clear why they made a picture with such an indicator – here this is the norm. Although, to be honest, these “zero two” are just an allowable error.

In fact, for drunk driving a fine of 307 euros with deprivation of rights for a year, a relapse within a year – a fine twice as much and minus the license for 3 years.

Belarus. Their mark is generally interesting – 0,29 ppm! They set this threshold on August 12, 2011. There is a fine from 460 to 900 euros (translated from Belarusian rubles).

Good experiment. Right!

Russia. The mark is the same – 0,29. It’s clear. Interestingly, the punishment is the same as in Belarus? Our fine is lower, equivalent to 329 euros (30 rubles), the rights will be taken away for 000-1,5 years, but if our driver violates again or refuses a medical examination, then he will have to pay from 2 to 200 thousand rubles (nothing yourself!), and the rights will be taken away for 300 years.

Other countries

Here I will write about the “white crows” – countries where cultural and religious characteristics operate. When I went over the sources, I noticed Greece. It costs 0,5 here, but for beginners (who drive less than 2 years) and motorcyclists – 0,2 ppm!

In Lithuania, the same chip with drivers of mopeds, motorcycles and trucks with minibuses, they are given 0,00, although the overall figure is 0,4. In the Netherlands, a similar incident occurs with drivers who have been driving for less than 5 years and owners of mopeds under 24 years old.

Well, and, of course, it’s worth including the Arab world here, where it’s not even about “driving a degree”, but just drinking – get “100 sticks” according to Sharia, which they still have.

These are the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and others. Their guys from Formula 1, even during the victory, douse themselves with a non-alcoholic drink that looks like champagne!

By the way, I deliberately did not mention those countries where nothing is said at all about the use of alcohol by drivers.

It’s just not mandated by law. These are Lesotho, Equatorial and Guinea-Bissau, Congo with Angola and the Dominican Republic. There are no thresholds, no interpretations, no separate punishments – nothing.

Now, as promised, sources.

  • about the French.
  • about Germany here.
  • the same site for car tourists.
  • magazine “Around the World” about it.
  • Ukrainian source about 0,2 ppm.
  • INFOX also writes about our case.
  • the personal blog of the driver – the same traveler – is here.

Now, now I want to ask you a question: in Russia, a law has been adopted on toughening penalties for “drunken accidents”, now from 3 to 7 years for causing serious harm to the health of a pedestrian, passenger or other driver.

Do you think this measure will help a lot (or helps, a year has already passed)? It’s just that I’m not a driver, I can’t know, I would like to hear the opinion of motorists!

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