🍺 Can I drive after drinking alcohol in Malta?

With conditions

Quick answer

Only if the reading stays below the limit — and the limit has dropped. The general limit is now 0.5 g/l of alcohol in the blood, and 0.2 g/l for drivers licensed less than two years and for professional drivers of heavy vehicles, while for bus and coach drivers it is 0.0 g/l. The myth: that "in Malta you can be at 0.8". That is an old figure still echoing in tourist guides; the law measures a concentration in your body, not a number of glasses, and weight, food and timing all change the result. A first offence is a fine of at least €1,200 or up to 3 months in prison, plus a disqualification of 6 to 12 months and up to 11 penalty points, with the final decision left to the magistrate.

📋 The rules

The general limit is 0.5 g/l of alcohol in the blood for anyone licensed more than two years.
For new drivers (under two years) and professional drivers of heavy vehicles the limit falls to 0.2 g/l.
For bus and coach drivers the limit is 0.0 g/l — no alcohol at all.
First offence: a fine of at least €1,200 or up to 3 months in prison; second or more: at least €2,329 or up to 6 months.
A disqualification of 6 to 12 months and up to 11 penalty points are added to the licence.

🔓 Exceptions

Being under 0.5 g/l does not make driving safe: the police can still act for dangerous driving or unfitness to drive.
Drugs and psychotropic substances are treated separately, and the 0.5 g/l limit does not apply to them.
A breathalyser reading in micrograms of breath cannot be copied across as if it were g/l in blood — they are different units.

⚠️ Penalties & fines

The penalty escalates with the offence. First time: a fine of at least €1,200 or up to 3 months in prison, or both. Second or subsequent: a fine of at least €2,329 or up to 6 months, or both. On top comes a driving disqualification of 6 to 12 months and up to 11 penalty points. Your insurer can cancel the policy or refuse to pay if you were over the limit, and then the whole cost of the damage falls on you personally. A disqualification means months off the road, not just an invoice, and a criminal conviction can leave a trace on your record that affects work or visas. The final decision on the penalty rests with the magistrate hearing the case.

📎 Official sources

Last verified: 2026-07-12

❓ Frequently asked

How many drinks can I have before driving?

The law does not count glasses but a concentration of 0.5 g/l in the blood, and 0.2 g/l for new drivers. The same drink produces different readings depending on weight, food, timing and strength, so "one glass" is never a guarantee that you stay under the limit.

Is Malta still on the 0.8 g/l limit?

No, that is an old figure still shown on many tourist sites. The limit in force today is 0.5 g/l for general drivers and 0.2 g/l for new and professional drivers, as the European comparative table of alcohol limits also confirms.

What happens if I go over the limit the first time?

A first offence brings a fine of at least €1,200 or up to three months in prison, or both, together with a disqualification of between 6 and 12 months. Up to 11 penalty points are also added, and the exact penalty is left to the magistrate hearing the case.

Is the limit the same for everyone?

No. There are three levels: 0.5 g/l for most drivers, 0.2 g/l for those licensed under two years and for drivers of heavy vehicles, and 0.0 g/l for bus and coach drivers. Know which category you fall into before relying on the 0.5 figure.

Can I refuse the breathalyser?

Refusing to give a sample when the police request it is itself an offence and can carry consequences similar to drink driving. It is better to cooperate with the test and then challenge the procedure or the reading in court if you think there was an error.

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