Spain proposes lowering legal blood alcohol limit for drivers

The Spanish government is preparing to lower the legal blood alcohol limit for drivers. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska announced the initiative during a presentation of the DGT summer 2026 report.

The proposed threshold would set a limit of 0.2 grams of alcohol per liter of blood, which is equivalent to 0.1 mg/l in exhaled air. This new standard would apply to all drivers regardless of vehicle type or license seniority.

Authorities emphasize that the only safe level for driving is 0.0, noting that even small amounts of alcohol increase accident risks. The change aims to address the fact that individual alcohol tolerance varies significantly based on metabolism and consumption timing.