Drivers from France may soon be subject to new alcohol limit when visiting Spain
The new measure is expected to be rolled out in 2025
The lower alcohol limit will impact all drivers in Spain
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Spanish authorities are planning to lower the alcohol limit for all drivers (including those from France) over the course of this year.
“The entry into force of these new measures is scheduled for 2025, although the publication in the BOE [Official State Gazette] of the royal decree that makes the change official is still being awaited," reports Spanish newspaper La Voz de Almería.
The announcement was made by Spain's Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT), highlighting that the safest attitude towards driving is not consuming alcohol at all.
Read also: French drivers will be exempted from new safety requirement on Spanish roads
The current alcohol limit in Spain is the same as France, where the legal limit is 50mg of alcohol for every 100ml of blood (0.05% BAC).
For novice and professional drivers in Spain, the legal blood alcohol level drops to 30mg per 100ml and a breath alcohol level of 0.15mg.
Spanish regulations are set to change this year however: the maximum permitted level should be lowered to 20mg of alcohol per every 100ml of blood (0.02% BAC) for all drivers.
Similarly, the limit for expelled air (in a breathalyser test) is expected to be reduced from 0.25mg to 0.10mg.
Drivers under the age of 18, however, are already subject to a zero-tolerance measure in Spain, which will be maintained.
Read also: Is it true that you need to keep a breathalyser in your car in France?
Reports suggest that drivers can be fined up to €1,000 if slightly over the legal limit, while offenders with a BAC of over 0.12% can face six months in prison.
Spain's DGT imposed almost €23million in fines for people caught driving while under the influence of alcohol in 2023.
Read also: Record number of driving fines in France confirmed in latest official report
If you plan on driving in Spain you may wish to avoid alcohol altogether, as even a small glass of wine could push over the limit.
The way alcohol affects you can depend on:
Weight, age, sex and metabolism
The type and amount of alcohol consumed
Food recently consumed
Stress levels
Using a breathalyser conforming to EU standards to check your alcohol level before getting behind the wheel of a car is advisable if you have been drinking.
Read also: More French roads set to return to 90km/h speed limit
