UKI was caught drink driving. What penalties do I face?
If convicted of drink driving in the UK, you face a mandatory driving ban of at least 12 months, a fine of up to £5,000, and possibly up to 6 months in prison — or longer if it’s a repeat offence or involves injury.
What the Law Says
Drink driving is a criminal offence under section 5 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. The law sets strict limits on alcohol levels while driving and imposes mandatory penalties on conviction.
It is illegal to drive or attempt to drive a motor vehicle on a road or other public place if you are unfit to do so due to alcohol, or if your breath, blood, or urine alcohol level exceeds the legal limit. The current limits in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are: 35 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath; 80 milligrammes per 100 millilitres of blood; or 107 milligrammes per 100 millilitres of urine.
A conviction triggers automatic disqualification from driving. The minimum ban is 12 months for a first offence, but courts must impose longer bans — up to 3 years — for repeat offences within 10 years. Fines can reach £5,000, and imprisonment of up to 6 months is possible for a first offence; this rises to 14 years if death is caused (under separate provisions).
Statutory TextA person who, when driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle on a road or other public place, is unfit to drive through drink or drugs commits an offence.
— Road Traffic Act 1988, s. 5 — Driving etc. while unfit through drink or drugs
What to Do
Cooperate with police breath tests — refusal without reasonable excuse is itself an offence carrying the same penalties.
Seek legal advice immediately from a solicitor experienced in motoring offences.
Consider pleading guilty early — this may reduce your sentence by up to one-third.
Attend a Drink-Drive Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS) if offered — it can reduce your driving ban by up to 25%.
Prepare evidence of mitigation (e.g., character references, proof of employment impact) before sentencing.
Sources
Same Question, Other Jurisdictions
Germany
Ireland
Singapore
India
South Korea
US-California
US-New York
JapanNot legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.