How Much Can I Drink And Still Drive Legally In The UK?

What is the legal drink-drive limit in the UK?

The UK has different drink-drive limits depending on where you are driving.

England, Wales and Northern Ireland share one limit. Scotland has a stricter limit that has been in place since December 2014.

England, Wales and Northern Ireland

The current limits set by the Road Traffic Act 1988 are 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, 35 micrograms per 100ml of breath, and 107mg per 100ml of urine. These limits have not changed since 1967.

Scotland

Scotland lowered its limit in December 2014 to 50mg per 100ml of blood, 22 micrograms per 100ml of breath, and 67mg per 100ml of urine. This brought Scotland in line with most of Europe.

The 2026 proposed changes

In January 2026, the UK government published a new Road Safety Strategy that includes a consultation on lowering the drink-drive limit in England and Wales to match Scotland. The proposed new limit would be 50mg per 100ml of blood. A separate proposal would set a near-zero limit of 20mg for new drivers, matching several European countries.

What is a unit of alcohol?

One unit of alcohol equals 10ml (or 8g) of pure alcohol.

That is roughly the amount of alcohol your liver can process in one hour, although this varies from person to person.

How do you calculate units?

The formula is: strength (ABV%) x volume (ml) / 1,000 = units. A 5% pint of beer (568ml) is 2.8 units. A 13% large glass of wine (250ml) is 3.3 units. The NHS recommends no more than 14 units per week spread across three or more days.

How many units can you drink and still drive legally?

There is no safe number of units that guarantees you will be under the limit.

Two people can drink the same amount and have very different blood alcohol levels. The police advice is clear: if you are driving, do not drink any alcohol at all.

Factors that affect your blood alcohol level

Your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) depends on your weight, sex, age, metabolism, stress levels, how much you have eaten, and how quickly you are drinking. A 60kg woman drinking on an empty stomach will reach the limit far faster than a 90kg man who has just eaten a large meal.

Even one pint of strong lager (3.0 units) could put a lighter person over the limit. Two large glasses of wine (6.6 units) would put most people well over it.

How many units are in a pint of beer?

A pint of standard 4% lager contains 2.3 units. A pint of stronger 5.2% lager contains 3.0 units.

How ABV changes the unit count

The difference between a 4% session lager and a 5.2% premium lager is 0.7 units per pint. Over three pints, that gap becomes 2.1 extra units, which is enough to push someone from borderline to well over the limit.

Craft beers and IPAs often range from 6% to 8% ABV. A single pint of 7% IPA contains 4.0 units, almost double a standard lager.

How many units are in a glass of wine?

A small 175ml glass of 13% wine contains 2.3 units. A large 250ml glass of the same wine contains 3.3 units.

Why glass size matters more than you think

Pubs and restaurants typically serve wine in 125ml, 175ml, or 250ml glasses. The difference between a small and a large glass is a full extra unit. Two large glasses of wine at 13% give you 6.6 units, which would put most adults over the limit.

Home pours are often larger than pub measures. If you fill a standard wine glass to the top, you are probably pouring closer to 300ml, which is 3.9 units at 13% ABV.

Can you drink the night before and drive the morning after?

It depends on how much you drank and when you stopped. Your body processes roughly one unit of alcohol per hour, but this is an average and varies between individuals.

How long does alcohol take to leave your system?

There is no way to speed up the process. Coffee, cold showers, food, and fresh air do not reduce your blood alcohol level. Only time works.

If you drink 10 units (four pints of 4.5% cider) and stop at midnight, your body needs approximately 10 hours to clear the alcohol. That means you would not be clear until 10am the following morning, and possibly later.

The morning after risk

Around 1 in 5 drink-drive arrests happen the morning after, according to police data. If you had a heavy night out, the safest option is to leave the car at home the following morning and use public transport or a taxi.

How does a drink-driving conviction affect your car insurance?

A DR10 conviction (driving or attempting to drive with excess alcohol) typically doubles or triples your car insurance premiums.

Some mainstream insurers will refuse to cover you entirely, forcing you to use a specialist convicted driver insurer.

How much does convicted driver insurance cost?

Drivers with a DR10 can expect to pay between 50% and 200% more than the equivalent clean-licence premium. A driver who previously paid £400 per year might find themselves quoted £800 to £1,200 with a drink-driving conviction on their record. The exact increase depends on the insurer, your BAC reading, and whether there was an accident.

How long does a DR10 stay on your record?

A DR10 endorsement stays on your driving licence for 11 years from the date of conviction. Most insurers ask about unspent convictions for 5 years, but some ask about any conviction within the last 11 years. You must declare it when asked, as failing to disclose a conviction can void your policy.

What are the penalties for drink driving in the UK?

Drink-driving penalties range from a 12-month driving ban and unlimited fine up to life imprisonment for causing death.

Penalties are set out on the GOV.UK drink-driving penalties page.

Penalties for driving over the limit

If you are caught driving or attempting to drive while over the legal limit, you face a minimum 12-month driving ban, up to 6 months in prison, and an unlimited fine. If you have been convicted twice in 10 years, the minimum ban rises to 3 years.

Penalties for causing death while drink driving

Under the Road Traffic Act 1988 (Section 3A), causing death by careless driving while under the influence carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment (for offences on or after 28 June 2022), an unlimited fine, a minimum 5-year driving ban, and an extended retest before you can drive again.

Beyond the legal penalties, a conviction means a criminal record, an endorsement visible on your licence for 11 years, difficulty entering countries like the USA and Canada, and potential job loss if you drive for work.

How are you tested for drink driving?

Police can stop any vehicle and breathalyse the driver if they suspect alcohol has been consumed, or if a traffic offence or accident has occurred.

The Metropolitan Police run regular roadside checkpoints, particularly around Christmas, New Year, and summer bank holidays.

Roadside breath test

Officers use a handheld breathalyser at the roadside. This gives an immediate reading. If you fail, or if officers believe your driving was impaired regardless of the reading, you will be arrested and taken to a police station.

At the police station

At the station, you provide two further breath samples using a calibrated evidential breathalyser. The lower of the two readings is used. If the reading is between 40 and 50 micrograms (in England and Wales), you may be offered the choice of a blood or urine test instead.

Refusing to provide a sample without a reasonable medical excuse is a criminal offence carrying the same penalties as drink driving itself.

Will the UK drink-drive limit change in 2026?

The UK government is consulting on lowering the limit in England and Wales from 80mg to 50mg per 100ml of blood, which would bring it in line with Scotland and most of Europe.

What has the government proposed?

The January 2026 Road Safety Strategy consultation includes three key drink-drive proposals: lowering the general limit to 50mg, introducing a near-zero 20mg limit for new and young drivers, and trialling alcohol interlock devices for repeat offenders.

What would the lower limit mean in practice?

At 80mg, some adults can drink roughly 1 to 1.5 pints of standard lager and remain under the limit (though this is highly variable). At 50mg, even a single pint could push a lighter person over. In practice, the lower limit would make the safest advice, which is to not drink at all if driving, the only realistic option.

What about new drivers?

The proposed 20mg limit for new drivers is effectively a zero-tolerance approach. Any measurable amount of alcohol would put a young driver or learner driver over the limit. Several European countries including Germany, Spain, and Italy already operate similar graduated systems.