The limit varies depending on what country you're in. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the legal alcohol limit for drivers is: <ul> <li>80 milligrams of alcohol for every 100 millilitres of blood in your body</li> <li>35 micrograms of alcohol for every 100 millilitres of breath</li> <li>107 milligrams of alcohol for every 100 millilitres of urine</li> </ul> In Scotland, the legal alcohol limit for drivers is: <ul> <li>50 milligrams of alcohol for every 100 millilitres of blood in your body</li> <li>22 micrograms of alcohol for every 100 millilitres of breath</li> <li>67 milligrams of alcohol for every 100 millilitres of urine</li> </ul> If you fail a roadside breath test and are found guilty of drink driving, you may get: <ul> <li>six months in prison</li> <li>an unlimited fine</li> <li>a driving ban for at least 12 months</li> <li>a criminal record</li> </ul> ::: body-ad-desktop zones:: 232632,232412,232640 types:: 163 disclaimer:: AD typeFilter:: native_ad adCount:: 1 ::: ::: body-ad-mobile zones:: 232632,232412,232642 types:: 5,163 disclaimer:: ADVERTISEMENT typeFilter:: display/native_ad adCount:: 1 :::

What’s the legal limit? 

There’s no safe way to calculate how much alcohol you can drink to stay below the legal limit. Alcohol's effect on the body varies between different people and depends on factors such as: <ul> <li>whether you're male or female</li> <li>your age</li> <li>your weight</li> <li>whether you've eaten recently</li> <li>the type of alcohol you're drinking</li> <li>your stress levels</li> </ul> ::: body-ad-mobile zones:: 232632,232412,233460 types:: 5 disclaimer:: ADVERTISEMENT typeFilter:: display adCount:: 1 :::

How can I stay within the legal limit? 

Any amount of alcohol affects your judgment and your ability to drive safely. You may not notice the effects but even a small amount of alcohol can: <ul> <li>reduce your co-ordination</li> <li>slow down your reactions</li> <li>affect your vision</li> <li>affect how you judge speed and distance</li> <li>make you drowsy</li> </ul> Alcohol can also make you more likely to take risks, which can create dangerous situations for you and other people. ::: body-ad-mobile zones:: 232632,232412,245869 types:: 5 disclaimer:: ADVERTISEMENT typeFilter:: display adCount:: 1 :::

Effects of alcohol on driving 

Alcohol takes time to leave your body. For example: <ul> <li>if you drink at lunchtime, you may be unfit to drive in the evening</li> <li>if you drink in the evening, you may be unfit to drive the next morning</li> </ul> There's no quick way of sobering up. Drinking coffee or taking a cold shower won't help. Many hours after drinking, you could still be over the legal limit or unfit to drive. ::: body-ad-mobile zones:: 232632,232412,245870 types:: 5 disclaimer:: ADVERTISEMENT typeFilter:: display adCount:: 1 :::

How long do the effects last? 

If you're going to drink alcohol, plan beforehand how you'll get home without driving. You could book a taxi, use public transport or arrange a lift with someone who's not drinking. Never offer alcohol to someone who's going to drive, and don't get in a car with someone who has been drinking. Find out more about <a href="/drinking-alcohol/alcohol-alcohol-units/">drinking and alcohol</a>.

Getting home 



## What’s the legal limit? 

The limit varies depending on what country you're in. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the legal alcohol limit for drivers is:

- 80 milligrams of alcohol for every 100 millilitres of blood in your body
- 35 micrograms of alcohol for every 100 millilitres of breath
- 107 milligrams of alcohol for every 100 millilitres of urine

In Scotland, the legal alcohol limit for drivers is:

- 50 milligrams of alcohol for every 100 millilitres of blood in your body
- 22 micrograms of alcohol for every 100 millilitres of breath
- 67 milligrams of alcohol for every 100 millilitres of urine

If you fail a roadside breath test and are found guilty of drink driving, you may get:

- six months in prison
- an unlimited fine
- a driving ban for at least 12 months
- a criminal record


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zones:: 232632,232412,232640
types:: 163
disclaimer:: AD
typeFilter:: native_ad
adCount:: 1

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::: body-ad-mobile
zones:: 232632,232412,232642
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disclaimer:: ADVERTISEMENT
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## How can I stay within the legal limit? 

There’s no safe way to calculate how much alcohol you can drink to stay below the legal limit. Alcohol's effect on the body varies between different people and depends on factors such as:

- whether you're male or female
- your age
- your weight
- whether you've eaten recently
- the type of alcohol you're drinking
- your stress levels


::: body-ad-mobile
zones:: 232632,232412,233460
types:: 5
disclaimer:: ADVERTISEMENT
typeFilter:: display
adCount:: 1

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## Effects of alcohol on driving 

Any amount of alcohol affects your judgment and your ability to drive safely. You may not notice the effects but even a small amount of alcohol can:

- reduce your co-ordination
- slow down your reactions
- affect your vision
- affect how you judge speed and distance
- make you drowsy

Alcohol can also make you more likely to take risks, which can create dangerous situations for you and other people.


::: body-ad-mobile
zones:: 232632,232412,245869
types:: 5
disclaimer:: ADVERTISEMENT
typeFilter:: display
adCount:: 1

:::

## How long do the effects last? 

Alcohol takes time to leave your body. For example:

- if you drink at lunchtime, you may be unfit to drive in the evening
- if you drink in the evening, you may be unfit to drive the next morning

There's no quick way of sobering up. Drinking coffee or taking a cold shower won't help. Many hours after drinking, you could still be over the legal limit or unfit to drive.


::: body-ad-mobile
zones:: 232632,232412,245870
types:: 5
disclaimer:: ADVERTISEMENT
typeFilter:: display
adCount:: 1

:::

## Getting home 

If you're going to drink alcohol, plan beforehand how you'll get home without driving. You could book a taxi, use public transport or arrange a lift with someone who's not drinking.

Never offer alcohol to someone who's going to drive, and don't get in a car with someone who has been drinking.

Find out more about [drinking and alcohol](/drinking-alcohol/alcohol-alcohol-units/).

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References

Healthily's medical team

Article information

How much alcohol can I drink before driving?

All of Healthily's articles undergo medical safety checks to verify that the information is medically safe. View more details in our <a href="/safety" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">safety page</a>, or read our <a href="/legal/editorial-policy-principles" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">editorial policy</a>.

The safest option is not to drink any alcohol at all if you plan to drive. Learn about drinking and driving here - using content verified by certified doctors.