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Estimate based only on the drinks and timing you entered. It is not a measurement of your actual BAC.

Estimated BAC

0.0 mg/100 ml

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Do not use this estimate to decide whether you are safe or legally allowed to drive, work, operate equipment, or perform safety-sensitive activities.

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Pro-Tip

Eating a meal before drinking may slow absorption and lower peak BAC. It does not change total elimination time.

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Recovery EstimateSee how the estimate changes over time.Recovery EstimateHydrationSuggested fluid context based on this session.HydrationHangover RiskEstimated next-day risk from this session.Hangover RiskAlcohol ImpactUnderstand the short-term body load.Alcohol Impact

* Legal limits vary by driver type, vehicle and state. This tool cannot determine legal driving status.

Last updated: April 25, 2026

UK drink drive limit 2026

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the drink drive limit is 80 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood (35 µg per 100 ml of breath) under the Road Traffic Act 1988. In Scotland, the limit was lowered to 50 mg per 100 ml of blood (22 µg of breath) in December 2014. Many drivers know there is a limit but do not understand how alcohol metabolism and next-morning impairment can vary.

This page explains the legal framework as educational context and shows why "I feel fine" is a poor strategy. It does not assess your legal situation or say whether driving is safe or legal.

Safety first

Do not drive after drinking. Even when you feel sober, alcohol can impair reaction time, attention, and judgement, and any estimate on this page is a population-level model — not a fitness-to-drive indicator. If you must know whether you are below a legal limit, use a calibrated, type-approved breathalyser, request a blood test, or simply wait. When in doubt, do not drive.

Educational note

The limit in England, Wales and NI is 80 mg/100 ml of blood (35 µg of breath). In Scotland it is 50 mg/100 ml (22 µg of breath). There is no fixed number of drinks that is "safe" — it depends on your body and circumstances.

What the answer depends on

The UK limit is expressed in milligrams of alcohol per 100 ml of blood, not in permille as on the Continent. England, Wales and NI use 80 mg; Scotland uses 50 mg, which is broadly equivalent to the 0.5‰ limit common in Europe. There is no "safe" number of units because the same amount of alcohol affects different people differently.

The Road Traffic Act 1988 (sections 4–5A) covers drink driving offences. Penalties range from a minimum 12-month disqualification and unlimited fine to up to 6 months in prison. For causing death by careless driving while over the limit, the maximum sentence is life imprisonment under the Road Traffic Act 1988 as amended.

How to interpret the result

For many drivers, the biggest practical problem is not driving straight after drinking but driving the morning after a night out. That is when people most commonly assume that "a night's sleep sorts it out." This assumption is often wrong and the 80 mg limit can still be exceeded the following morning.

This section naturally leads to the "morning after" page and the "how long after drinking can I drive" page, which address the most frequent real-world scenario.

Common mistakes

Frequently asked questions

What is the drink drive limit in the UK?

80 mg per 100 ml of blood in England, Wales and NI. 50 mg per 100 ml in Scotland.

What is the limit in breath?

35 µg per 100 ml of breath in England, Wales and NI. 22 µg in Scotland.

How many units can I drink and still drive?

There is no safe answer. It depends on weight, sex, food, type of drink, timing, enforcement rules and individual impairment. The calculator gives educational context only.

What are the penalties for drink driving?

Minimum 12-month driving ban, unlimited fine and possible prison sentence of up to 6 months for a first offence.

What happens if I cause an accident while over the limit?

For causing death by careless driving while over the limit, the maximum penalty is life imprisonment.

Can I still be over the limit the morning after?

Yes. This is one of the most common real-world scenarios.

How should I think about risk after drinking?

Treat legal limits as context, not clearance. If you have consumed alcohol, the safest practical choice is not to drive.

Does the calculator replace a breathalyser?

No. The calculator provides an estimate; a breathalyser provides a measurement.

Estimate based on the Widmark equation with a dynamic absorption curve (Mitchell et al., 2014) and elimination rate per Jones (2010). Methodology .

See also

Can I drive after drinking? How long after drinking can I drive? Drink driving penalties UK Morning after: am I still over the limit?

Use the calculator only to understand alcohol metabolism and legal-limit context, not to decide whether to drive.

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