Drink-driving limits in Austria (2026)

Last reviewed: 30 October 2026

In short: Austria prohibits driving with 0.5 g/l of alcohol in the blood (0.05%) or more. Drivers in the probationary period have a limit of 0.1 g/l. Specially trained officers may test any driver's breath at any time, and the highest fine band is EUR 1,600 to EUR 5,900.

RuleWhat applies
Blood alcohol limit for ordinary driversDriving after drinking alcohol0.05 % blood alcohol [1]
Lower limit for novice or young driversDriving after drinking alcoholDuring the probationary period (Probezeit) a driver may not drive with more than 0.1 g/l in blood or 0.05 mg/l in breath, and may not drink alcohol while driving, including breaks. A breach is punished only with a retraining order (Nachschulung), unless it also breaches the StVO or § 14 Abs. 8 FSG. [2]
Limit for professional or commercial driversDriving after drinking alcohol⚠ Not yet verified
Random breath tests without suspicionDriving after drinking alcoholYes [3]
Maximum penaltiesDriving after drinking alcoholAt 1.6 g/l (0.8 mg/l breath) or more: fine of EUR 1,600 to EUR 5,900, or two to six weeks' substitute imprisonment (§ 99 Abs. 1 StVO); the same applies to refusing the test. From 1.2 g/l: EUR 1,200 to EUR 4,400. Impaired driving: EUR 800 to EUR 3,700. For 0.5 g/l or more under § 14 Abs. 8 FSG: EUR 300 to EUR 3,700 (§ 37a FSG). [4]

Notes

  • The law sets 0.5 g/l in blood or 0.25 mg/l in breath for drivers of motor vehicles. 0.5 per mille is shown as 0.05%.
  • No separate lower limit for professional drivers was found in the sections read.
  • Specially trained officers may test the breath of drivers at any time, without suspicion (§ 5 Abs. 2a StVO).

Sources

  1. Bundeskanzleramt (Rechtsinformationssystem des Bundes, RIS): Führerscheingesetz § 14 - Bundesrecht konsolidiert, tagesaktuelle Fassung (consulted 30 October 2026) · all sources
  2. Bundeskanzleramt (Rechtsinformationssystem des Bundes, RIS): Führerscheingesetz § 4 - Bundesrecht konsolidiert, tagesaktuelle Fassung (consulted 30 October 2026) · all sources
  3. Bundeskanzleramt (Rechtsinformationssystem des Bundes, RIS): Straßenverkehrsordnung 1960 § 5 - Bundesrecht konsolidiert, tagesaktuelle Fassung (consulted 30 October 2026) · all sources
  4. Bundeskanzleramt (Rechtsinformationssystem des Bundes, RIS): Straßenverkehrsordnung 1960 § 99 - Bundesrecht konsolidiert, tagesaktuelle Fassung (consulted 30 October 2026) · all sources

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General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.