The drink-driving limit in Belgium: rules and penalties
Home › The drink-driving limit in Belgium: rules and penalties
In Belgium you may not drive with 0.5 grams of alcohol per litre of blood or more. It sounds simple, but in the theory test and on the road everything depends on the details: what 0.5 g/l means in drinks, what happens during a check, how heavy the penalties are, and why alcohol is dangerous even below the limit.
Key points
0.5 g/l, 0.2 for professionals
The general limit is 0.5 g/l of blood (0.22 mg/l of exhaled air). Professional drivers are limited to 0.2 g/l.
Penalties by threshold
The higher the level, the higher the fine and the longer your licence is withheld.
Only time helps
Your body eliminates roughly 0.10 to 0.15 g/l per hour. Coffee or water do not speed it up.
How many drinks is 0.5 g/l?
There is no universal answer, and that is exactly the trap. Your level depends on body weight, sex, what you have eaten, how fast you drink and what you drink. The same amount does not give the same result in two people.
As a rough guide, two standard drinks can bring an average-weight person close to 0.5 g/l, and one drink may be enough for a light person on an empty stomach. A standard drink (25 cl of ordinary beer, 10 cl of wine, 3 cl of spirits) contains about the same amount of pure alcohol.
Penalties by threshold
The system is progressive: the higher the level, the heavier the penalty. Above 1.15 g/l your licence is withdrawn immediately for fifteen days and you must appear before the police court. From 1.80 g/l an alcohol interlock becomes compulsory.
| Blood alcohol | Exhaled air | Driving ban | On-the-spot fine |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 to 0.8 g/l | 0.22 to 0.35 mg/l | 12 hours | €197 |
| 0.8 to 1.01 g/l | 0.35 to 0.44 mg/l | 12 hours | €462 |
| 1.02 to 1.15 g/l | 0.44 to 0.50 mg/l | 12 hours | €636 |
| Over 1.15 g/l | 0.50 mg/l or more | 15 days | None: court appearance required |
What happens during a roadside check
A check starts with a breath test that gives an indication: safe, alert or positive. If it is not safe, a more precise breath analysis follows with an approved device, and that result counts. A blood test may be requested if you cannot blow or if you contest the result.
Refusing the test is an offence in itself, generally punished as severely as the highest alcohol level.
Alcohol is dangerous below the limit
- Your reaction time gets longer, which increases stopping distance.
- Your field of vision narrows: traffic from the side is seen later, or not at all.
- You misjudge distances and speeds, especially at night.
- Your sense of risk drops while your confidence rises.
See how reaction time affects your stopping distance.
Practise this topic with real exam questions
Reading a rule is not enough: in the Belgian theory exam every question is asked on a photo of a real traffic situation, with answers that look deliberately alike. On PermisBelges, every topic of the highway code is practised with questions in the GOCA exam format, each one corrected and explained.
A free account gives access to the lessons, the free mock exams and progress tracking. Premium unlocks every exam simulation, detailed statistics per topic and targeted revision of your mistakes until exam day.
Ready to test yourself? Create your free account in thirty seconds, or discover Premium to practise without limits.
Frequently asked questions
What is the drink-driving limit in Belgium?
0.5 grams per litre of blood, or 0.22 milligrams per litre of exhaled air. Professional drivers are limited to 0.2 g/l.
How many drinks can I have before driving in Belgium?
It varies from person to person. Two standard drinks can already reach 0.5 g/l. The only safe choice is not to drink if you are driving.
What is the penalty at 0.5 g/l?
A twelve-hour driving ban and an on-the-spot fine of €197. Above 1.15 g/l your licence is withdrawn for fifteen days and you must go to court.
How fast does alcohol leave the body?
About 0.10 to 0.15 g/l per hour. Coffee, water or food do not speed it up.
What if I refuse a breath test?
Refusal is an offence in itself and is generally punished as the highest level, with immediate withdrawal of your licence.
Further reading
- Serious faults in the driving test
- Speed limits in Belgium
- Stopping and parking rules in Belgium
- Traffic lights in Belgium: every rule explained
- Priority rules in Belgium: who goes first?
- Stopping distance formula, explained step by step
- Free Belgian theory test
- Theory exam simulation
- The Belgian highway code
- Plans and pricing