Zero Alcohol Beer / Rules
RulesThe drink-drive limit is falling in England and Wales
The government plans to cut the limit from 80mg to 50mg, matching Scotland. What it means for a drink at the pub.
Updated By the Zero Alcohol Beer team

The government's Road Safety Strategy, published in January 2026, plans to cut the drink-drive limit in England and Wales from 80mg to 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. That matches Scotland. The government will also consult on alcohol interlocks, devices that stop a car starting if the driver has been drinking.
At 50mg, there is no reliable rule of thumb for how much you can drink. It depends on your weight, sex, what you have eaten and how fast you drink. The only safe advice is none.
0.0% or 0.5%?
A 0.0% beer has no alcohol at all. Many alcohol-free beers, including most craft ones, are 0.5%. If you are driving and want no question at all, pick a 0.0%. Our guide to alcohol-free beer and driving goes through it.

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Sources
- Institute of Alcohol Studies: road safety strategy plans to reduce drink-drive limit
- GOV.UK: the drink-drive limit
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