Alcohol
Alcohol is a major factor in crashes that lead to death and injury.
Even small amounts of alcohol affect your judgement and ability to drive
REMEMBER
The best advice is never ever drink and drive.
Could you live with the shame?
It is a criminal offence to drive, attempt to drive or be in charge of a motor vehicle if you have more than:
- 80 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood,
- 107 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of urine, or
- 35 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.
There is no reliable way to tell how much you can drink before you exceed the legal limit. Please check current limits at www.rsa.ie
By law, drivers may be required to give a sample of breath in a Garda station. Gardaí are allowed to make arrangements to take a blood or urine sample and have it analysed to check the level of alcohol. The results of these tests can be used as evidence when the driver's case goes to court.
Penalties for drink driving
If you are convicted of drink driving, you will be banned from driving. The minimum period of your ban depends on your alcohol level. Other possible penalties include large fines and a prison sentence.
A conviction for drink driving will impact on your life in many ways. On conviction, your name may be published in a newspaper. You must advise your insurance company immediately and it will have an impact on the future cost of your insurance. It is likely you will have to tell your family, your friends and employer as you will be banned from driving.