The most relevant examples of penalties for drunk drivers in different countries

October 8, 1967 in the UK for the first time passed a law regulating the content of alcohol in the blood of drivers, at the same time measuring tubes began to be used. After 10 years, experts found that thanks to this law, more than 6,000 people were saved from death on the roads.

We decided to compare the practice of allowed per mille norms among drivers in different countries of the world and selected relevant examples of punishments for drunk driving.

(Total 12 photos)

1. Belarus

Let's start with neighboring Belarus, where the laws are quite severe: if you exceed the norm of 0.04 ppm for the first time, the driver will pay up to $ 1,250 and lose his license for three years. For recidivism, they can be sent to prison - criminal liability is provided.

2. Czech Republic

In the Czech Republic, as well as in some Eastern European countries, such as Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, “zero alcohol tolerance” has been approved, i.e. 0.0 ppm, and in case of violation of the law, the fine is 200-470 euros.

3. Croatia

Previously, a similar measure was used in Croatia, but under pressure from travel companies, the law was changed, and now the maximum permissible level of alcohol in the blood of a driver is 0.5 ppm - approximately 40 ml of vodka or one glass of white wine. In the event that a drunk driver violates traffic rules or has an accident, the principle of “zero tolerance” also works there. But the penalty for drunk driving will be relatively small - from 70 euros.

4. Germany

According to the pan-European system of traffic rules, the permissible level of alcohol content should not exceed 0.5 ppm. Such a norm is established in almost all countries of Western Europe. However, drivers with less than two years of experience or under the age of 21 and taxi drivers are strictly prohibited from driving even with a small amount of alcohol in their blood. If an accident occurs, punishment threatens at any non-zero alcohol content. In Germany, a “decently drunk” driver who gets caught for the first time pays 500 euros, the second time - 1000 euros, the third violation costs as much as 3000 euros.

5. UK

In England, you can drink with impunity up to 0.8 ppm, which is almost two glasses of wine. But it is here that fines for drunk driving are the largest in Europe - 7200 euros.

By the way, the very first driver fined for drunk driving was the London taxi driver George Smith: on September 10, 1897, he was fined as much as 25 shillings.

6. France

In the country of expensive wines for drunk driving, that is, when drinking more than one glass, the driver faces a subpoena and a fine of 135 euros (up to 0.8 ppm), 4500 euros for exceeding 0.8 ppm and up to 30 thousand euros, if there was an accident. In case of severe consequences of the accident - 150 thousand euros and 10 years in prison. All motorists in France must carry a blood alcohol test kit with them - and interestingly, when leaving a restaurant, for example, you need to use it before getting into the car. Lack of such a set, respectively, entails a fine.

To be honest, it’s hard to imagine respectable tourists relaxing on the Cote d’Azur who, after dinner with wine, sitting in some kind of Porsche, suddenly begin to measure ppm ...

7. USA

In America, everything is strict: lovers of strong drinks can go to jail for a period of six months to one year, and also be subject to a long-term deprivation of a driver's license. The allowed blood alcohol content is 0.8 ppm (for drivers over 21). A driver caught drunk for the first time (and not causing an accident) will get off with a $300 fine and a six-month suspension. But they can stop him only in case of violation of the rules. If he is caught by the police for the second time within ten years, the fine can reach up to five thousand dollars, the third time - up to 10 thousand dollars. If a drunk driver caused a fatal accident, he will receive 10 years in prison, but depending on the legislation of a particular state, the norms may be different.

All this applies to the United States and European countries, where alcohol is quite tolerant. Let's see how things are in Asian countries?

8. Singapore

In Singapore, a driver who is convicted of driving drunk can be whipped. To punish a drunk driver, blows with a stick (more than a meter long and about a centimeter thick) are used. In addition to corporal punishment, a motorist runs the risk of running into a fine of 200-230 Singapore dollars (one Singapore dollar is about 0.75 US dollars). However, 0.08 ppm is humanely allowed here.

9. China

In China, the law is especially strict. One driver who caused a fatal accident was sentenced to death. If the motorist is simply caught drunk and has not yet become a participant in unpleasant traffic situations, then the liability will still be criminal - for a period of one to six months. It also provides for a three-year suspension. Well, 0.0 ppm, respectively.

10. Thailand

The same is true in Thailand. Drunk culprit of the accident, in which people died, can be sentenced to capital punishment. Despite this, 0.05 ppm is still allowed.

11. Japan

This country is also very strict towards drunken driving citizens - a drunk driver (more than 0.03 ppm) faces a serious fine and deprivation of rights for a long time. If the drunk driver of the accident fled the scene of an accident, then the rights will be taken away for 10 years. In Japan, there is a dry law for drivers. The country punishes not only the drunk drivers themselves, but also the passengers who got into their car. If the driver turns out to be intoxicated, each of his adult passengers must pay a fine equivalent to $ 3,000. An exception is not made even for passengers of route and tourist buses. The driver faces at least $8,700 in fines or five years in prison.

A driver can be deprived of his license for life if he, driving a car while drunk, knocked down one or more pedestrians to death.

In Japan, a bartender is not even allowed to sell alcoholic drinks if he knows that the customer is driving. For such an offense, the bar can lose its license.

12. UAE

In the Emirates, as in most Arab countries (and Islamic in general), it is not possible to talk about punishment for drunk drivers. There it is a crime to drink alcohol in itself, since Islam forbids the faithful to touch wine.