Drink Driving Penalty Calculator 2025 — BAC, Fines & Disqualification

Drink Driving Law in England and Wales

Driving or attempting to drive with alcohol above the prescribed limit is an offence under section 5(1)(a) of the Road Traffic Act 1988. Being in charge of a vehicle while over the limit is a lesser offence under section 5(1)(b). The prescribed limits in England and Wales — which are stricter in Scotland (22µg/100ml breath, 50mg/100ml blood) — are:

• Breath: 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres (µg/100ml)
• Blood: 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres (mg/100ml)
• Urine: 107 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres (mg/100ml)

Officers will typically use a roadside breathalyser screening device initially, but this cannot be used as evidence in court. If the roadside test is positive, you will be taken to a police station for an evidential Intoxilyser test. If the evidential breath test shows between 35 and 39 µg/100ml — above the 35 limit but close to it — you have the right to request a blood or urine test instead. This right to a "back calculation" option is rarely exercised in practice but can be significant in borderline cases.

Sentencing Guidelines — The Three Bands

The Sentencing Council publishes guidelines for drink driving offences that magistrates must follow. The guidelines divide "drive/attempt to drive" cases into three bands based on the alcohol reading:

Band A — Just Over the Limit (up to 1.5× the limit)

Reading: up to 52 µg/100ml breath / 120 mg/100ml blood. Starting point: 12 months' disqualification. Fine: 75–150% of weekly income. If there are no aggravating factors, the starting point is 12 months. The court can go above or below this starting point based on aggravating and mitigating factors.

Band B — Mid Range (1.5–2× the limit)

Reading: 53–66 µg/100ml breath / 121–160 mg/100ml blood. Starting point: 17 months' disqualification. Fine: 100–200% of weekly income. This band is where most drink driving cases fall. The starting point of 17 months can be reduced to 12 months or increased to 23 months based on the circumstances.

Band C — High Range (over 2× the limit)

Reading: 67+ µg/100ml breath / 161+ mg/100ml blood. Starting point: 29 months' disqualification. Fine: 200–300% of weekly income. May include a community order or even custody in the most serious cases. High readings — particularly above 2.5× the limit — are treated as significant aggravating factors and can push sentences significantly above the starting point.

The Drink Drive Rehabilitation Course — Reducing Your Ban

Courts can offer the Drink Drive Rehabilitation Course (DDRC) to eligible offenders. If you complete the course — typically a one-day or multi-session programme run by an approved provider — your disqualification period is reduced by up to 25%. For example, a 17-month ban could be reduced to around 12 months 3 weeks on completion of the course. You pay for the course yourself (typically £150–£250).

The course is generally offered to first-time offenders with readings below around 2.5× the limit. It cannot be offered if the offence involves serious injury or if you have a previous drink driving conviction within the past 10 years. You must complete the course before the reduced ban period expires — if you do not complete it, your full disqualification period applies.

Mandatory Disqualification for Repeat Offenders

A second drink driving conviction within 10 years triggers a mandatory minimum disqualification of 3 years. For high readings, multiple convictions, or cases involving death (causing death by careless driving while under the influence carries a maximum sentence of 14 years' imprisonment), the disqualification and criminal penalties are substantially higher. There is also a mandatory requirement to pass an extended driving test before getting your licence back after a drink driving ban.

Impact on Insurance and Career

A drink driving conviction stays on your DVLA record for 11 years. During this period, it must be disclosed to insurers — premiums typically increase by 50–100% immediately after conviction and remain significantly elevated throughout. For professional drivers (HGV, PCV, taxi, private hire, delivery), a drink driving conviction almost invariably results in the loss of vocational entitlement and the inability to work as a professional driver. Certain professions (law, medicine, financial services, security) may require disclosure to regulatory bodies, which can have serious professional consequences.