Drinking & Driving

If you are going to drink, then find an alternative way to get home rather than driving.

Research indicates that driving ability is impaired after consuming any level of alcohol.

For further information about drinking and its impact on your ability to drive see the New Zealand Transport Agency website.

Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)

There are two ways of assessing the alcohol limit for driving:

• Breath testing measures the number of micrograms of alcohol (mcgs) per litre of breath.

• Blood testing measures the number of milligrams of alcohol (mgs) per 100 millilitres (mls) of blood.

Although the measures appear different, they are essentially the same. They both measure the same level of alcohol for drink driving purposes.

Breath testing is used for both screening and evidential purposes. Blood testing can be used as a check on the accuracy of the breath testing. The Police can require a blood test if the person refuses to do a breath test. 

Current legal limits

• Drivers under 20 years - zero.
  NOTE: The Land Transport (Road Safety and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2011 has lowered the legal drink drive limit for drivers under 20 years of age from 0.03 blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to zero. For further information go to the Ministry of Transport website.

• Drivers over 20 years - 400mcg breath or 80mg blood.
  NOTE: The Land Transport (Road Safety and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2011 gives provision to impose a 3-year zero BAC licence for repeat drink drive offenders following a period of disqualification, or following completion of an alcohol interlock penalty. Changes to the licensing system will need to be made, and once these are completed this provision will come into force. For further information go to the Ministry of Transport website.