How much can I have to drink if I am driving?
I think I have a problem with alcohol - where can I get help?

How much can I have to drink if I am driving?

Drinking alcohol and driving is dangerous because drinking alcohol slows your reflexes down which means you react more slowly than you do normally. This means it is more likely that you will be involved in a car accident, which could cause death or serious injury to yourself, your passengers and others.

In short it is better not to drink at all when you drive. If you do, keep it to a minimum. The ‘legal’ limits are 400 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath if you are over 20 and 150 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath if you are under 20 or only have a learner or restricted licence.

There are now random breath checks which means you can be asked to pull over and undergo a ‘sniffer’ test even if you have been driving perfectly well. The sniffer test will register any alcohol you have had. Further tests would then show whether you are over the limit.

The amount of alcohol you can drink before you are over the limit depends on many things, your weight, body size, what you’ve had to eat that day and whether you are tired or have taken any medicine that might increase the effect of the alcohol.

Relevant alcohol limits

a) Under 20 :

From August 1st 2011 changes to the law mean that there will be zero alcohol tolerance for drivers under the age of 20. This will mean that if you are under 20, stopped by the police and found to have any alcohol in your system at all you will be breaking the law.

Infringement offences:

• 0 - 150 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath, or
• 0- 30 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.

*If you are found to have committed an "infringement offence", you may need to go to court or you could just be required to pay a fine.
Offences:

• More than 150 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath or
• More than 30 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millililtres of blood

*If you are found to have committed an "offence" you will probably need to go to court. The maximum penalties are either:

1. A term of imprisonment not exceeding 3 months OR a fine not exceeding $2,250 AND
2. You will be disqualified from holiding or obtaining a driver's license for 3 months or more

b) Over 20:

Offence:

• More than 400 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath or
• More than 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood

*If you are caught driving over the over 20 drinking limit (adult limit) you could face:

First and second time offenders:

1. Either a fine of up to $4,500 or a term of imprisonment of no more than 3 months AND
2. You will be disqualified from holding or obtainnig a driver's license for 6 months or more

Third or subsequent offenders:

1. Either a fine of up to $6,000 or a term of imprisonment of up to 2 years AND
2. You will be disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver's license for atleast 1 year.

If you kill or injure someone the penalties are greater and you would probably be sent to prison. (For more information on drink driving see our “Driving Offences” information sheet.)

I think I have a problem with alcohol - where can I get help?

The Alcohol Drug Helpline, Ph: 0800-787-797,10am - 10pm, everyday.

This is a confidential information service for people with questions about their own, or someone else's drinking.

Look in the phone book for Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon Information Services, Alateen, Odyssey House (09) 623-0228 or YOUTHLINE 0800376-633 or (09) 376-6650, they will know who can help you.

You can also contact your nearest Alcohol and Drug Clinic Centre listed in the phone book.

If you are unable to find support phone the Ministry of Youth Affairs (04) 471-2158, or YouthLaw Tino Rangatiratanga Taitamariki Inc. who will be able to suggest where help is available.