2025 Austria BAC Laws - Legal Limits & Drink-Driving Penalties
Austria BAC: 0.05% general; 0.01% for novice and professional drivers. Administrative and criminal penalties by BAC; interlock programme for serious/repeat offenders.
Austria Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) Limits
0.05%General drivers (0.5‰)
Last Updated: 2025
Austrian Road Traffic Law (StVO) and Licence Act (FSG)
StVO / FSG
General limit 0.5‰; reduced 0.1‰ (≈0.01%) for novice drivers during probation and for professional categories. Higher BAC (≥0.8‰) may trigger harsher sanctions.
Reduced 0.1‰ limit
Applies to novice/probationary, certain training scenarios, and C/D professional categories.
Sanction levels
Administrative fines and point system; ≥0.8‰ may lead to licence withdrawal and criminal consequences.
Penalties and Measures
| Category | Key measures |
|---|---|
| Standard range (≥0.5‰) | Administrative fines; demerits / Licence measures based on severity and recency |
| High range (≥0.8‰) | Licence withdrawal / Higher fines and possible criminal proceedings / Rehabilitation courses and medical-psychological checks |
| Alcohol Interlock Programme | Available for certain serious/repeat offenders as an alternative pathway for licence restoration |
Standard range (≥0.5‰)
- Administrative fines; demerits
- Licence measures based on severity and recency
High range (≥0.8‰)
- Licence withdrawal
- Higher fines and possible criminal proceedings
- Rehabilitation courses and medical-psychological checks
Alcohol Interlock Programme
- Available for certain serious/repeat offenders as an alternative pathway for licence restoration
Additional Information
Random breath testing
Police conduct extensive roadside checks; refusal may lead to sanctions.