Can I drive after drinking alcohol?
Only below 0.5 per mille. The legal limit in Bulgaria is 0.5 per mille of alcohol in the blood. Between 0.5 and 1.2 it is an administrative offence: a fine of BGN 500–1,000 (≈€256–511) and loss of your licence for 6 to 12 months on a first offence; on a repeat, BGN 1,000–2,000 (≈€511–1,023) and a ban of 1 to 3 years. Above 1.2 per mille driving is no longer an offence but a crime under the Penal Code — you face prison and a criminal record. Refusing a test is treated as the most serious case, so 'better to refuse' does not work. The same limits apply to bicycles and e-scooters, which many riders do not realise.
📋 The rules
- Legal limit: 0.5 per mille
- 0.5–1.2: BGN 500–1,000 fine + 6–12 month ban
- Repeat: BGN 1,000–2,000 + 1–3 year ban
- Above 1.2: a crime under the Penal Code
- Refusing a test is treated as the most serious case
🔓 Exceptions
- Below 0.5 with no signs of impairment: no penalty
- Residual alcohol the morning after counts in full — it is routinely underestimated
- Limits also apply to e-scooter and bicycle riders
⚠️ Penalties & fines
At 0.5–1.2 per mille: a fine of BGN 500–1,000 (≈€256–511) and loss of your licence for 6–12 months on a first offence. On a repeat: BGN 1,000–2,000 (≈€511–1,023) and a ban of 1–3 years. Above 1.2 per mille the act is a crime under the Penal Code — you face prison rather than a fine, and a criminal record that outlives the sentence. Proposed changes also provide for confiscation of the vehicle in the worst cases. Refusing a test is treated as the most serious case and puts you in no better position. Separately, in a crash with alcohol your insurer covers the victims under third-party liability but then pursues recourse against you for the whole sum, and comprehensive cover pays nothing.
📎 Official sources
- lex.bg · Road Traffic Act →
- Ministry of the Interior · Traffic Police →
- ETSC · Drink-driving in Bulgaria →
❓ Frequently asked
What is the alcohol limit in Bulgaria?
0.5 per mille of alcohol in the blood. Below it, with no signs of impairment, there is no penalty. Above it the fines and licence ban begin, and above 1.2 per mille the act is a crime rather than an offence.
What is the fine at 0.8 per mille?
It falls in the 0.5–1.2 band: a fine of BGN 500–1,000 (≈€256–511) and loss of your licence for 6 to 12 months on a first offence. On a repeat the amount doubles and the ban runs 1 to 3 years.
When does drink-driving become a crime?
Above 1.2 per mille. It is then prosecuted under the Penal Code rather than as an administrative offence. You face prison, and a criminal record that is entered on your record — a consequence that outlives the punishment itself.
What happens if I refuse the test?
Refusing to be tested is treated as the most serious case and penalised accordingly. The calculation that 'no test means no evidence' does not work — the refusal itself is grounds for the heaviest sanction and puts you in no better position.
Does the limit apply to scooters and bicycles?
Yes. The alcohol limits apply to riders of electric scooters and bicycles too, not only to car drivers. Many people assume it 'does not count' on a bike or scooter — an expensive mistake, because the penalties are the same.
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