Alcohol limits
Queensland has 4 alcohol limits. These limits are used to apply penalties if you’re caught driving with an illegal blood or breath alcohol concentration (BAC) for your licence.
The limits are:
- ‘no alcohol’ limit–you will be over this limit if the concentration of alcohol in your blood or breath is more than zero
- general alcohol limit–you will be over this limit if the concentration of alcohol in your blood or breath is equal to or more than 0.05
- middle alcohol limit–you will be over this limit if the concentration of alcohol in your blood or breath is equal to or more than 0.10
- high alcohol limit–you will be over this limit if the concentration of alcohol in your blood or breath is equal to or more than 0.15.
What is blood or breath alcohol concentration?
Blood or breath alcohol concentration (BAC) is the amount of alcohol in your body and is measured by the concentration on alcohol in your breath or blood. It is measured in grams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. For example, a BAC of 0.05 means your body contains 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.
You should know that:
- as soon as you start drinking, your BAC rises
- it takes 30 to 60 minutes after you have stopped drinking for your BAC to reach its peak.
Factors that can affect your BAC include:
- how much alcohol you drink
- the time period over which you consume alcohol
- how much you weigh
- how long since you last ate
- whether you are fit
- how healthy your liver is
- whether you regularly drink
- your mood
- your gender
- the type of drink(s) you consume.
Legal blood/breath alcohol concentration
Your legal BAC depends on the licence you hold or the vehicle that you want to drive.
| Licence or situation | Legal blood/breath alcohol concentration (BAC) |
|---|---|
| All learner, P1/P2 provisional, probationary or restricted licence holders (regardless of age) All licence holders learning to drive the next higher class of licence under the authority of their provisional, probationary or open licence All class RE motorcycle licence holders for the first 12 months of holding their class RE motorcycle provisional, probationary, restricted or open licence | 0.00 (‘no alcohol’ limit) |
| Open licence holders (However, if you obtain your class RE motorcycle licence, you must ride with a zero BAC in your first year of riding, regardless of your age or the type of vehicle licence you hold) | Below 0.05 (general alcohol limit) |
All licence holders when driving, or in charge of a:
| 0.00 (‘no alcohol’ limit) |