If you drink, don't drive. The message to avoid excess alcohol in driving is clear, but how long does the body become free of the substances? A night's sleep may not come.
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21/08/2026
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Driving after drinking alcohol is not recommended, constituting, at the limit, a crime – depending on the alcohol rate that a driver charges.
Even if you feel in the full possession of your abilities, this type of substance has an impact on their faculties that may be almost imperceptible, but be significant from the point of view of road safety.
So, how long after drinking alcohol can you drive? There is no right and precise answer for all situations, always depending on the quantity and body. But a prolonged period, even if it includes several hours of sleep, may not come.
The Republican National Guard (GNR) makes it clear: “A person with a blood alcohol rate of 2.0 grams/litre at midnight may still have alcohol in his blood many hours later. Depending on the speed at which the body eliminates alcohol, it may remain above the legal driving limit for much of the following day.”.
The authority’s recommendation is to ensure that it has the right conditions to drive before doing so, warning also: “A night's sleep does not eliminate alcohol from the body. Even after sleeping, alcohol can remain present in the blood and compromise driving ability“.
Driving alcohol limit and penalties
In general, the law determines that permitted blood alcohol rate is 0.49 grams per litre of blood for the generality of drivers – although the recommendation is even level 0.
There are exceptions: drivers for less than three years must comply with a limit of 0,19 g/l, as well as professionals (carrying drivers for children and/or passengers, heavy goods and dangerous goods). The Road Code establishes as infringements:
- 0,5 to 0,8 g/l: Serious counter-ordination (EUR 250 to EUR 1,250 fine)
- 0,2 to 0,4 g/l for the exceptions mentioned above
- 0.8 to 1.2 g/l: Very serious counter-ordination (EUR 500 to EUR 2,500 fine)
- 0,5 to 0,8 g/l for the exceptions mentioned above
- Exceeding 1,2 g/l: Crime punishable with prison sentence up to 1 year or fine up to 120 days
- Exceeding 0,8 g/l for the above exceptions
In the case of counter-orders, it should be recalled that the graves entail the loss of three points in the letter and the ancillary penalty for the inhibition of driving between one month and one year. The very serious ones, however, involve subtraction of five points and inhibition of driving between two months and two years.