Infographic: blood alcohol limits in Switzerland – 0.5‰ general, 0.1‰ zero tolerance for new drivers and professional drivers, 0.8‰ and above counts as seriously unfit to drive

Alcohol & driving (Switzerland): BAC limits, fines & green L

Infographic: blood alcohol limits in Switzerland – 0.5‰ general, 0.1‰ zero tolerance for new drivers and professional drivers, 0.8‰ and above counts as seriously unfit to drive

Last updated: 04.02.2026

Find the key blood-alcohol limits for Swiss roads — including the “green L” (probationary licence) and a BAC calculator for rough orientation.

Go to the BAC calculator

Important: This is not legal advice. Police and authorities decide based on the statutory procedures (breath/blood test) and the circumstances of the individual case.

BAC limits in Switzerland (quick overview)

0.5‰
Standard limit
For most drivers: 0.5‰ (equivalent to 0.25 mg/l breath alcohol).
0.1‰
“Zero-tolerance” group
For learner permits, probationary licence (“green L”), professional passenger transport etc.: 0.1‰ (0.05 mg/l).
ab 0.8‰
“Qualified unfit to drive”
From 0.8‰ (0.40 mg/l) it gets serious: typically a longer licence suspension and criminal consequences.
Situation Blood limit (‰) Breath limit (mg/l)
Most drivers 0.5 0.25
Learner permit / probationary licence (“green L”) / professional passenger transport (and others) 0.1 0.05
Qualified unfit to drive 0.8 0.40

Note: In practice there are tolerances depending on the procedure (breath/blood). The numbers above are the common thresholds.

Legal basis: the 0.5‰ and 0.8‰ levels follow the Blood Alcohol Ordinance (SR 741.13, Art. 1 and 2). The 0.1‰ zero-tolerance for novice drivers (probationary licence), learner drivers, driving instructors on duty, accompanying persons on learner drives and professional drivers derives from the Traffic Rules Ordinance (VRV, SR 741.11, Art. 2a); driving while unfit is governed by Art. 91 of the Road Traffic Act (SVG).

“Green L” (probationary licence): What happens with alcohol?

  • During the probationary period the de-facto limit is 0.0 — so no alcohol. Even low values can trigger consequences (legal limit: 0.1‰ / 0.05 mg/l).
  • If your licence is suspended (medium or severe offence), the probationary period is usually extended.
  • A second suspension during the probationary period can lead to revocation of the probationary licence (re-issue only after a blocking period; additional assessments may be required).
Car with a green L plate in Switzerland – probationary licence, 0.1‰ zero-tolerance limit

How does an alcohol check work?

  1. Stop and check by the police.
  2. Initial breath test — if suspicious, an evidentiary test or a blood draw usually follows.
  3. Depending on the result: criminal proceedings (fine) and separate administrative measures (warning/suspension).
Police check with a breath alcohol test in Switzerland
Infographic: how a Swiss police alcohol check works – preliminary breath test, evidential breath test and consequences from 0.5‰, 0.8‰ and 1.6‰

Which consequences apply (rough overview, no guarantee)?

Important: The amount of the fine depends heavily on the situation, prior offences, canton and income (for income-based fines). Additional costs apply (proceedings, assessments, course).
  • 0.5–0.79‰: usually a fine, plus a warning or licence suspension depending on the circumstances.
  • from 0.8‰: qualified unfit to drive — typically licence suspension (at least several months) plus criminal consequences.
  • from 1.6‰: a fitness-to-drive assessment (e.g. traffic-medical) may additionally be ordered.

Our traffic-fines calculator shows what other Swiss traffic offences cost.

BAC calculator (estimate) — how long until you’re “okay” again?

The calculator uses a simplified Widmark estimate (elimination rate a conservative 0.10‰/h; rule of thumb 0.10–0.20‰/h). It’s a rough orientation only — individual variation can be significant.

BAC calculator

Only an estimate – not proof that you are fit to drive.

The Widmark formula works with average values. Your actual blood alcohol level can differ significantly – factors with a major influence are:

  • State of health – including medication and how you feel that day
  • Stomach contents – whether and what you ate before drinking
  • Body fat percentage – it determines how the alcohol is distributed in your body

A value below the limit is therefore never permission to drive. When in doubt: don’t drive.

Drinks

–‰ (≈ – mg/l breath alcohol)
–
Applicable limit: 0.5‰
Time until below 0.5‰
–
Time until below 0.1‰
–
Calculation basis
Alcohol consumed (estimated): – g · Time since first drink: – h

Widmark estimate – not a measurement and not proof of fitness to drive. State of health, stomach contents and body fat percentage change the actual value significantly.

FAQ

Does 0.0‰ really apply during the probationary period (“green L”)?

In practice yes — no alcohol. The legal limit for this group is 0.1‰ (0.05 mg/l), so even low values can have consequences.

Is one beer enough to reach 0.5‰?

It depends heavily on body weight, sex, drinking duration and individual elimination rate. The calculator below gives a rough orientation — but the safe choice is: don’t drive.

How fast does the body break down alcohol?

A common rule of thumb is roughly 0.10–0.20‰ per hour. This calculator deliberately uses a conservative 0.10‰/h, because a higher value would falsely suggest you are fit to drive sooner. Drinking faster or coffee does not help.

How accurate is the BAC calculator?

It is an estimate, not a measurement. The Widmark formula works with average values, so your actual blood alcohol level can differ significantly: state of health (including medication), stomach contents — whether and what you ate before drinking — and body fat percentage all have a major influence, because they change how quickly alcohol is absorbed and how it is distributed in the body. A result below the limit is never proof that you are fit to drive.

What is the difference between a fine and a licence suspension?

The fine/penalty is criminal. The licence suspension is a separate administrative measure issued by the authorities — both can happen at the same time.

What happens at very high values (e.g. from 1.6‰)?

In addition to longer suspensions, a traffic-medical fitness-to-drive assessment can be ordered. The question then becomes whether you are fit to drive a vehicle at all.

Sources (selection)