Drinking and driving

In most cases, the standard legal maximum blood alcohol level of 0.5 mg/100 ml applies. However, in some specific circumstances, this limit may be reduced to 0.1 mg/100 ml or below.

Advice

To convert the level of alcohol on your breath (as measured by a breathalyser) to the level of alcohol in your blood (as measured by a blood test), double the breath alcohol reading. For example, if a breathalyser shows your alcohol level as 0.25 mg/l, this means your blood alcohol level will be 0.5 mg/100 ml.

The table below lists each individual licence category, and the probationary period in which the blood alcohol limit of 0.1 mg/100 ml applies:

0.1 mg/100 ml limit by licence type and validity
Licence category	Time period
Category AM	Until the holder reaches the age of 20
Provisional driving licence (all categories except AM und F)	For as long as you hold a provisional licence For A1 and L17 licences, at least until the holder reaches the age of 21
Provisional licence for standard driving lessons ("L")	During all driving lessons (applies to the driver and the passenger)
Provisional licence for driving lessons on multiple categories of road L17	During all driving lessons (applies to the driver and the passenger)
Driving lessons provided by a certified instructor	During all driving lessons (applies to the driver and the driving instructor)
Category C	At all times
Category D	At all times
Category F	Until the holder reaches the age of 20
For drivers transporting schoolchildren	At all times

Driving licence-holders who drive or operate a vehicle after they have consumed alcohol and with a blood alcohol level above the legal limit for their licence category are liable to be issued with an administrative penalty. Depending on the level of alcohol in the blood, this may be a recordable offence (Vormerkdelikt) or lead to suspension of their driving licence (if the level of alcohol in the blood is above 0.8 mg/100 ml).

For comprehensive details of

go to oesterreich.gv.at.

Advice

Additional costs may be associated with additional training or psychological assessments for driving.

Online advice portal and calculator

Penalties for road traffic offences

Further links

Alcohol and illegal drugs in the road traffic (→ BMK)^{German text}

Legal basis

Certified translation

Last update: 11 April 2024

Responsible for the content: Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology