Driving a car
Blood alcohol limit in Switzerland: the consequences of drinking and driving
Drink-driving is prohibited in Switzerland: the blood alcohol limit is 0.5 per mille. Comparis explains the legal consequences.
05.12.2025
iStock / Henadzi Pechan
1. How much blood alcohol is allowed in Switzerland?
Safety has the highest priority in road traffic. Moreover, the driver must at all times be able to fulfil the duty of care when driving (Art. 31 para. 1 SVG). Therefore, drinking and driving is prohibited– at least from a certain blood alcohol level.
The law states:
For car and motorcycle drivers in Switzerland, drinking and driving is subject to a blood alcohol limit of 0.5 per mille (Art. 1 SR 741.13). As a rule, there are no consequences below 0.5 per mille.
For certain groups of people, there is a complete ban on alcohol (Art. 31 para. 2 SVG). These include, for example, learner drivers and people with a probationary driving licence.
Important: you must be physically and mentally able to drive the car at all times (Art. 31 para. 2 SVG). This means that if you do not feel fit, you are no longer allowed to drive a car even at lower blood alcohol levels.
Blood alcohol limits abroad
Even abroad, blood alcohol limits apply. However, they are not uniformly regulated. In the article on fines in Europe you will receive a cross-border overview of alcohol limits.
2. What are the penalties for drink-driving in Switzerland?
Driving while intoxicated is a seriousthreat to road safety.Anyone who drives a vehicle under the influence of alcohol and is caught at a police checkpoint must expectserious legal consequences.
In the table you can see whichlegal consequencesyou may face. The higher the blood alcohol level, the more severe the consequences.
| Less than 0.5 per mille (<0.25 mg/l) | No penalty – you may continue driving. This does not apply to people with a ban on drinking alcohol, such as new drivers and professional drivers. |
|---|---|
| 0.5 to 0.79 per mille (0.25 mg/l to 0.39 mg/l) | Minor offence If you have not committed any other traffic offence, you must expect a fine and a warning (Art. 16a SVG). The fine is usually between 600 and 800 francs. If your driving licence has been revoked or any other administrative measure imposed in the past two years, you will lose your driving licence for at least one month (Art. 16a para. 2 SVG). A high fine is also possible (Art. 91 SVG). The amount depends on your financial circumstances. Moderate offence If you violated traffic rules while driving under the influence of alcohol, then, depending on the circumstances, your driving licence will be withdrawn for at least one month (Art. 16b SVG). |
| 0.8 per mille to 1.6 per mille (0.4 mg/l to 0.79 mg/l) | Serious offence You face a substantial fine or a prison sentence of up to three years (Art. 91 SVG). The amount depends on your financial circumstances and on the amount of alcohol. Your driving licence will be withdrawn for at least three months (Art. 16c SVG). |
| From 1.6 per mille (from 0.8 mg/l) | You will be examined for your fitness to drive (Art. 15d SVG). If there are doubts about your driving competence, measures may be ordered. These include, for example, control drives, further training and refresher courses. |
Harsh consequences in the event of a repeat offence
In the event of a repeat offence, the penalties are significantly harsher. Your driving licence may also be suspended for a significantly longer period. It is even possible for the licence to be withdrawn indefinitely.
There are various court rulings on driving under the influence of alcohol. Some concern the withdrawal of driving licences, others address alcohol dependence or other topics related to drink-driving.
The Accident Prevention Advisory Centre offers an overview of various court rulings on drink-driving.
3. Strict alcohol ban for new drivers and professional drivers
Certain groups are subject to a total ban on alcohol (Art. 31 para. 2 SVG). These groups include:
Learner drivers and their accompanying persons
People with a probationary driving licence
Driving instructors
Professional drivers
The limit for these groups is 0.1‰Thus, there is a certain measurement tolerance. The reason is that certain foods, such as fruit, can cause the blood alcohol concentration to rise slightly.
Beware: when you consume alcohol-containing foods, such as truffle pralines, your blood alcohol concentration can quickly rise to 0.1‰ or higher. That’s why alcohol-containing foods are therefore off-limits to novice and professional drivers.
Consequences for novice drivers
Are you a novice driver, and has a blood alcohol concentration of at least 0.1‰ been recorded? Then, in addition to the legal consequences, you will also face the following additional measures (Art. 15a SVG):
In the case of the first-time withdrawal of the driving licence the probationary period is extended by one year.
In the event of a second offence the probationary driving licence is forfeited. You can apply for a new learner’s permit no earlier than one year after revocation. A traffic psychology credit must confirm your suitability. You will then have to pass the driving test again for the probationary licence.
4. Alcohol limit in Switzerland: How much beer can you drink to reach a blood alcohol concentration of 0.5‰?
Everyone reacts differently to alcohol. This depends, for example, on
gender
age
weight
height
Also the type of alcohol and your previous food intake have an influence. For example, alcohol enters the bloodstream faster on an empty stomach than on a full stomach. Warm drinks increase blood circulation, which makes you absorb alcohol faster.
The legal tolerance limit is quickly exceeded. Example: If a man weighs 100 kilograms, he is usually not allowed to drink more than two beers. For a woman weighing 60 kilograms, a strong beer is usually enough to reach 0.5‰. A strong beer is a beer that usually has an alcohol content of at least 6.5% due to a higher original wort.
The following applies to everyone: even small amounts of alcohol have an impact on perception and increase the risk of accidents. Therefore, it is best not to drive after drinking alcohol.
There are organisations that will support you if you are no longer fit to drive feel. This includes, for example, the campaign Nez Rouge.
Blood alcohol table: What effect does each blood alcohol level have?
The graphic shows you which physical and psychological consequences the different blood alcohol levels have.
In women the blood alcohol concentration rises faster than in men. The reason is that women generally have a higher fat content and a lower water content in the body. Alcohol can distribute in less water, causing its concentration to rise more quickly.
Women also have lower amounts of the enzyme ALDH and therefore break down alcohol more slowly. The liver needs this enzyme to break down acetaldehyde, into which alcohol is converted. Acetaldehyde is a toxin that causes a hangover, among other things.
On average, the human body between 0.1 and 0.15 per mille per hour. You cannot speed this up. If you go to sleep with alcohol in your blood, you will still have an elevated blood alcohol level the next morning. In that case, you are not allowed to drive again.
Example: after two strong beers, a 70-kilogram woman has a blood alcohol level of about 1 per mille. To be allowed to drive again, she must not drink any more alcohol for between 3.20 and 5 hours – depending on how quickly her body breaks down the alcohol.
5. Alcohol at the wheel: how a breathalyser test works
A breathalyser test is carried out by the police. You will be stopped on the street and must follow the instructions of the police officers.
The test is usually carried out by means of breath-alcohol test. You will first blow into a breath-alcohol tester for at least five seconds, sometimes also directly into a tamper-proof breath-alcohol meter. The device then indicates how much alcohol is present in your breath.
The next steps dependent on the alcohol level:
Under 0.25 mg/l (under 0.5 per mille): You can continue driving. Exception: you are subject to the alcohol ban.
Between 0.25 and 0.39 mg/l (between 0.5 and 0.79 per mille): You can accept the result by signing. If you do not, a further test will be carried out with a more reliable breath-alcohol meter.
From 0.4 mg/l (from 0.8 per mille): You must take a further test with the more reliable breath-alcohol meter.
Good to know: a blood sample is only taken in exceptional cases – for example, in the event of serious accidents or suspected drug use.
However, the person being tested can request a blood sample. This costs several hundred francs. However, you only have to pay for the blood test if it confirms the result of the breath alcohol test.
Can I refuse the alcohol test?
In principle, you have a duty to cooperate. This means you must comply with the police’s instructions. You may refuse the breath alcohol test.
However, the police may then order a blood alcohol test. You also face the withdrawal of your driving licence, as well as a fine and imprisonment. The police must inform you of the possible consequences.
6. Am I insured in the event of an accident under the influence of alcohol?
Anyone who causes an accident under the influence of alcohol is acting with gross negligence. You may have to face consequences from the insurer.
Car insurance can make recourse claims – this applies to liability insurance, comprehensive insurance and accident insurance. This means that the insurer can reclaim money from you or reduce benefits. Depending on the damage, the sums involved can be very high.
Some car insurance companies offer, for an additional fee, a gross negligence cover. However: This cover generally does not apply in the case of alcohol consumption, drug use or excessive speeding.
7. Frequently asked questions about drink-driving in Switzerland
How long a driver’s licence suspension lasts depends on various factors. The factors and their consequences are shown in the table.
| Factor | Consequences |
|---|---|
| Seriousness of the offence | In the case of a minor offence, you will lose your driver’s licence only if you repeat the offence. A minor offence occurs when your blood alcohol level is between 0.5 and 0.79 per mille and you have not breached any traffic rules. In the case of a moderate offence, you will lose your driver’s licence for at least one month. In the worst case, you could lose it permanently. A moderate offence occurs when your blood alcohol level is between 0.5 and 0.79 per mille and you have breached traffic rules. In the case of a serious offence, you will lose your driver’s licence for at least three months and, in the worst case, permanently. A serious offence occurs when your blood alcohol level is at least 0.8 per mille. Important: For people subject to an alcohol ban, the per mille limits are lower. |
| Previous offences | Have you committed any offences in the past years that led to your driver’s licence being revoked? The more often your licence has been revoked in recent years, the longer it will be suspended following a repeat offence. |
The amount of the fine depends on the seriousness of the offence and your financial circumstances. This means that the more you earn, the higher the penalty. Alongside the fine, depending on the seriousness of the offence, there may also be an administrative penalty – or even a custodial sentence.
For minor offences without additional traffic violations, the penalty is usually 600 to 800 francs.
How much beer or other alcohol you can drink depends on several factors:
Age
Size
Weight
Gender
The table gives you an overview of how many units of alcohol a beer (3 dl) contains for different people – sorted by gender and weight.
| Weight | ‰ per glass for men | ‰ per glass for women |
|---|---|---|
| 50 kilograms | 0.35 | 0.40 |
| 60 kilograms | 0.30 | 0.35 |
| 70 kilograms | 0.25 | 0.30 |
| 80 kilograms | 0.25 | 0.25 |
| 90 kilograms | 0.20 | 0.25 |
| 100 kilograms | 0.20 | 0.20 |
| 110 kilograms | 0.20 | 0.20 |
Source: TCS
If you are caught driving with a blood alcohol level of 1.1 per mille, you face the following penalties:
at least three months’ withdrawal of your driving licence
a fine depending on your financial circumstances
a conditional fine
If you repeat the offence, you may face a prison sentence of up to three years.
If you are caught driving with a blood alcohol level of 1.6 per mille, you face the following penalties:
at least three-month driving licence suspension
a fine depending on your financial circumstances
a conditional fine
If you repeat the offence, you may face a prison sentence of up to three years.
In addition, you must take a mandatory driving fitness test. A specialist will determine whether you suffer from alcohol addiction. You must abstain from alcohol for several months and then prove this with a hair sample. You will only get your driving licence back if the specialist approves.
This article was first published on 20.08.2021
