The drink drive limit

    There are strict alcohol limits for drivers, but it is impossible to say exactly how many drinks this equals – it is different for each person.

    The legal alcohol limit for drivers in the UK is:

    • 35 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath
    • 80 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood
    • 107 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of urine

    It’s not possible to say how much alcohol you can drink and stay below the limit. There are strict drink driving penalties if you are caught over the limit.

    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