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Being charged with exceeding the drink driving limit can have devastating consequences for your licence, livelihood, and future. At Scarsdale Solicitors, we are expert drink driving limit solicitors who specialise in defending drivers accused of driving with excess alcohol across England and Wales. Moreover, with a proven high success rate in motoring offence cases and over 20 years of specialist experience, we know exactly how to challenge the prosecution’s evidence and protect your rights. Furthermore, our drink driving limit solicitors have successfully defended hundreds of clients facing excess alcohol charges.
Whether you blew slightly over the limit, were stopped on the “morning after”, or face accusations of high-level intoxication, our dedicated team of drink driving limit solicitors will fight tirelessly to secure the best possible outcome for your case. Therefore, don’t face these serious charges alone—contact us today for expert legal representation.
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Understanding the Legal Alcohol Limits for Drivers
The drink driving offence is governed by Section 5 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, which makes it an offence to drive or attempt to drive a motor vehicle on a road or other public place after consuming so much alcohol that the proportion of it in a person’s breath, blood, or urine exceeds the prescribed limit. Specifically, our drink driving limit solicitors have extensive knowledge of this legislation and how to challenge it effectively.
The Drink Driving Limit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
The legal drink driving limits in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland are:
107 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of urine (the ‘urine limit’)
The Drink Driving Limit in Scotland
Scotland has a lower drink driving limit, which was reduced in December 2014 to align with most other European countries:
Importantly, there are strict alcohol limits for drivers, but it’s impossible to say exactly how many drinks this equals because each person is different. Therefore, factors such as your weight, age, sex, metabolism, and the amount of food you’ve eaten all affect how alcohol is processed in your body.
How Does the UK Compare to European Countries?
England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (along with Malta) have one of the highest drink drive limits in Europe at 0.8 g/l (80mg per 100ml of blood). Consequently, the UK is significantly out of step with the rest of Europe. Moreover, the table below illustrates just how much higher the UK limit is compared to our European neighbours.
European Drink Driving Limits Table (2025)
The following table shows the maximum drink driving limits across Europe for standard drivers as well as special limits for commercial and novice drivers where applicable. Limits are shown in grams per litre of blood.
Country | Standard Limit | Commercial Drivers | Novice Drivers |
Austria | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
Belgium | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.5 |
Bulgaria | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
Croatia | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Cyprus | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
Czech Republic | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Denmark | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.2 (from 1 July 2025) |
Estonia | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
Finland | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
France | 0.5 | 0.5 (0.2 bus drivers) | 0.2 |
Germany | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Greece | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
Hungary | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Ireland | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
Italy | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Latvia | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.2 |
Lithuania | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Luxembourg | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
Malta | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
Netherlands | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.2 |
Norway | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
Poland | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
Portugal | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
Romania | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Slovakia | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Slovenia | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Spain | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 (0.0 for under 18s) |
Sweden | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
UK [i] | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.8 |
Switzerland | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
[i] Not including Scotland where the legal BAC is 0.5g/l for all categories.
Five European countries—the Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, and Azerbaijan—enforce a zero-tolerance policy with a 0.00% blood alcohol content limit, setting the strictest standard for drink driving in Europe.
Importantly, it is notable that many countries have lower drink driving limit levels for commercial and novice drivers. Moreover, this reflects a recognition that certain drivers require even stricter limits to ensure road safety.
Initially, you'll receive a Notice of Intended Prosecution outlining the charge. Specifically, you must respond within 28 days providing driver details. Importantly, failing to respond within this deadline is a separate offence carrying 6 penalty points.
Subsequently, you'll be summoned to appear at the Magistrates' Court. Moreover, drink driving cases are always heard at magistrates' courts, not Crown Court (unless they involve causing death or serious injury).
At the first hearing, you'll enter your plea:
Importantly, entering a guilty plea at the first opportunity can reduce your sentence by up to one-third. However, you should only plead guilty if you genuinely have no defence. Therefore, consulting expert drink driving limit solicitors before making this life-changing decision is essential.
At trial, the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that:
Moreover, our drink driving limit solicitors cross-examine police officers, challenge technical evidence, and present your defence compellingly. Furthermore, we instruct expert witnesses when needed to support technical defences.
If convicted, the court considers the Magistrates' Court Sentencing Guidelines, aggravating and mitigating factors, before imposing penalties. Specifically, our drink driving limit solicitors present powerful mitigation addressing:
Consequently, effective mitigation can significantly reduce the length of your driving ban and help you avoid custody in high-reading cases.
This situation feels devastating, but with expert legal representation, many people charged with drink driving are acquitted or receive significantly reduced penalties. Moreover, being charged doesn't mean being convicted. Furthermore, numerous defences may be available even if you provided a sample over the limit.
The sooner we can review your case, the stronger your defence will be. Specifically, contacting drink driving limit solicitors early allows us to:
Therefore, don't delay—contact us today for immediate expert advice.
Collect any relevant paperwork to help us assess your case:
Moreover, the more information you can provide, the better we can evaluate your defence options.
Avoid discussing the details of your case:
Importantly, anything you say could potentially be used against you. Therefore, keep details confidential until you've consulted expert drink driving limit solicitors.
Many people assume they have no choice but to plead guilty. However, this is a serious mistake. Specifically:
Therefore, always get expert legal advice before making any decisions about your plea. Moreover, even if you do ultimately plead guilty, our drink driving limit solicitors can present powerful mitigation to minimize your sentence significantly.
Call us now or book online for a confidential, no-obligation consultation. Specifically, we'll:
Furthermore, we offer evening and weekend appointments for your convenience. Therefore, there's no reason to delay getting the expert advice you need.
We Understand the Technical Complexities
Drink driving limit cases involve intricate legal and technical details. Consequently, we have in-depth knowledge of:
Therefore, our technical expertise allows us to identify defences other solicitors might miss.
Transparent Pricing, No Hidden Costs
We believe in honest, upfront pricing:
No hidden charges – our quote is our quote
Personalised, Compassionate Service
We know this is likely your first encounter with the criminal justice system. Therefore, our drink driving limit solicitors provide:
Compassionate approach recognizing the stress and anxiety you’re experiencing
Rapid Response Times
Guaranteed call back within 30 minutes during office hours
24/7 availability for urgent matters
Immediate case assessment
Nationwide Representation
While based in Rochdale, we represent clients across England and Wales in all magistrates’ courts and Crown Courts.
Outstanding Client Reviews
With over 244 verified five-star reviews and a 4.8/5 rating, our clients consistently praise our:
Professional expertise
Clear communication
Successful outcomes
Our experienced legal team explores every potential defence, including:
This situation feels overwhelming, but with expert legal representation, many people charged with failing to provide are acquitted or receive significantly reduced penalties.
The sooner we can review your case, the stronger your defence will be. Early intervention allows us to:
Collect any relevant paperwork:
Avoid discussing the details of your case on social media or with anyone except your solicitor. Anything you say could potentially be used against you.
Call us now or book online for a confidential, no-obligation consultation. We'll assess your case and explain your options clearly.
We also provide expert legal representation across multiple practice areas throughout England and Wales. Moreover, our experienced team delivers specialist advice with a proven high success rate in motoring cases. Therefore, whatever legal challenge you face, we have the expertise to help.
Our motoring law specialists defend all driving-related charges with exceptional results. Specifically, we handle:
Speeding Offence UK – Expert Legal Defence for All Speeding Charges
Furthermore, our drink driving defence includes specialist support for:
Additionally, our drug driving expertise covers:
Drug Driving Offences – Expert Legal Defence for Drug Driving Charges
Moreover, we defend all “failing to” offences including:
Consequently, our comprehensive motoring defence also includes:
Our Criminal Defence Solicitors provide expert representation for all criminal charges. Therefore, from police station interviews to Crown Court trials, we protect your rights and freedom.
Furthermore, our Immigration Solicitors guide individuals and businesses through complex visa applications, sponsorship licences, and settlement matters. Consequently, we ensure compliance and maximize approval chances.
Additionally, our Family Law & Divorce Solicitors provide compassionate support through divorce, child custody disputes, and financial settlements. Therefore, we protect your interests during difficult times.
Don’t face legal charges alone. Contact Scarsdale Solicitors today for expert advice and representation.
Call: +44 (0) 161 660 6050
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Understanding offences and process helps you make informed decisions about your future.
The minimum mandatory driving ban for drink driving is 12 months. However, the actual length depends on your breath, blood, or urine reading:
Moreover, if you have a previous drink driving conviction within 10 years, the minimum ban increases to 36 months.
In the vast majority of cases, no. The driving ban for drink driving is mandatory by law. However, there are two rare exceptions:
Therefore, the best way to avoid a ban is to fight the charge with expert legal representation.
Prison sentences are relatively rare for first-time drink driving offences unless your reading was very high or you caused an accident. Specifically:
Moreover, previous convictions for drink driving or other offences increase the risk of custody. However, expert drink driving limit solicitors can present powerful mitigation to help you avoid prison even in serious cases.
Unfortunately, dramatically. Specifically, insurance premiums can increase by 200-500% following a drink driving conviction. Moreover, many mainstream insurers will refuse to provide cover altogether, forcing you to use specialist convicted driver insurance brokers who charge premium rates.
Furthermore, you must declare your conviction to insurers for at least 5 years. Therefore, the financial impact extends far beyond court fines.
No. A driving ban is absolute—you cannot drive any vehicle on any road for any purpose during the ban period. Specifically, this includes:
Moreover, driving while disqualified is a serious criminal offence carrying up to 6 months' imprisonment. Therefore, you must make alternative arrangements for work and personal transport during your ban.
You can still be prosecuted and convicted even if you were driving the morning after drinking the previous evening. Specifically, if you're over the legal limit at the time of driving, you commit the offence regardless of when you consumed the alcohol.
However, our drink driving limit solicitors recognize that morning after cases deserve sympathetic treatment. Moreover, courts may impose slightly lower sentences recognizing the lack of deliberate intent. Furthermore, technical defences may still apply even in morning after scenarios.
Police cannot stop you completely randomly without any reason. Specifically, they must have grounds to require a breath test:
However, "reasonable suspicion" can be based on very little—such as smelling alcohol or observing minor driving errors. Therefore, in practice, police have broad powers to require breath tests.
Refusing or failing to provide a specimen without reasonable excuse is a separate offence under Section 7(6) of the Road Traffic Act 1988. Moreover, the penalties are identical to drink driving itself—including mandatory driving bans, fines, and potential imprisonment.
Furthermore, refusal is often viewed more seriously by courts than drink driving because it suggests consciousness of guilt. Therefore, you should provide specimens when requested unless you have a genuine medical reason preventing you from doing so.
Your body processes approximately one unit of alcohol per hour. However, this varies significantly between individuals. Specifically, factors affecting elimination rate include:
Moreover, there's no way to speed up alcohol elimination. Therefore, if you had a heavy drinking session, you could still be over the limit 12+ hours later.
Absolutely not. Drink driving cases involve complex technical evidence, strict procedural requirements, and life-changing consequences. Specifically:
Therefore, professional legal representation is an investment in protecting your licence, livelihood, and future.
Don’t face drink driving charges alone. Moreover, expert legal representation from our drink driving limit solicitors can make all the difference to your case outcome. Every moment matters when facing drink driving charges. Moreover, the sooner we can review your case, the stronger your defence will be.
Your licence, your livelihood, and your future are too important to leave to chance. Furthermore, a drink driving conviction will affect you for years through driving bans, insurance costs, employment consequences, and criminal records.
Real stories from clients who trusted us with their most important cases. Your peace of mind is our greatest testimonial. Read what our clients share about their journey with us.
I would like to thank Shazia and the Scarsdale team. Super efficient, fast responding and knew exactly what to do in the situation I was in. Highly recommend for any immigration needs
