Can I drive after one beer?
The law does not count beers — it counts promilles. A driver with more than two years' experience has a limit of 0.5‰. Novice drivers with up to two years' experience, along with D-category, tram and trolleybus drivers, have a limit of only 0.2‰. The penalties: for 0.5–1.0‰ — €430–640 and revocation for a year; for 1.0–1.5‰ — €850–1,400 and revocation for three years. Above 1.5‰ this stops being an administrative matter: driving a car in that state is a criminal offence — up to one year in prison, probation supervision, and a five-year driving ban.
📋 The rules
- Experienced driver, the limit is 0.5‰
- Novices (under 2 years) and D-category: 0.2‰
- 0.5–1.0‰: €430–640 + licence for 1 year
- 1.0–1.5‰: €850–1,400 + licence for 3 years
- Above 1.5‰: a criminal offence
🔓 Exceptions
- Cyclists and e-scooter riders face fines of €70, €120 or €170
- For mopeds above 1.5‰ it stays administrative: €1,200–2,000 and 5 years
- Driving intoxicated without the right licence is a separate criminal offence
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Beware the out-of-date information: a CSDD page still circulating online states that driving above 1.5‰ brings an administrative fine of €1,200–2,000. For a car that is no longer correct — it is now a criminal offence. The old administrative figure survives for mopeds, which is precisely what causes the confusion. In a criminal case the consequences dwarf the sentence: the court must confiscate the vehicle if it belongs to the offender; if it belongs to someone else, the state can recover its value. After revocation you must re-sit the theory and driving exams. And since 1 January 2025, refusing the roadside breath test is itself enough to open a criminal case.
📎 Official sources
❓ Frequently asked
What is the alcohol limit?
For a driver with more than two years' experience, 0.5‰. For novice drivers with up to two years' experience, and for D-category, tram and trolleybus drivers, the limit is only 0.2‰.
Is anything under 0.5‰ always legal?
No, and it is a common myth. For a novice driver, 0.2–0.5‰ already means €210–430 and revocation for six months. The limit depends on your experience and your licence category.
What happens above 1.5‰?
For a car driver it becomes criminal: up to one year in prison, short-term imprisonment or probation supervision, together with a five-year loss of driving rights. It is no longer an administrative fine.
Can they really confiscate the car?
Yes. In a criminal case the court must confiscate the vehicle where it belongs to the offender. Where the car belongs to someone else, the state may recover its full or partial value from the offender.
What does refusing the breath test achieve?
Nothing good. Since 1 January 2025, refusing the test at the roadside is itself sufficient grounds to begin criminal proceedings. Refusing and stalling no longer keeps the case out of the criminal track.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “drink driving fine latvia”
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