According to the proposal, this rate will now apply to all drivers in Spain, regardless of their profession or the length of their driving licence. The current law allows a rate of 0.5 grams of alcohol per litre of blood for most drivers.
In Spain, this maximum rate is reduced to 0.3 grams for some professions (bus drivers, ambulance drivers and lorry drivers, for example).
The bill that was accepted by the Spanish parliament, an initiative of the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE, which leads the country's government), received votes in favour of 177 deputies out of the 350 in the plenary. 32 MPs from Vox voted against it, while 135 from the Popular Party abstained.
This was the first vote and debate on the proposal in parliament, which now begins to analyse it at the committee level, where amendments can be made, before the initiative returns to the plenary for a final vote. There is currently no timetable for this process.
As well as changing the limits on the maximum amount of alcohol allowed in the blood to drive, the proposal introduces a ban on publicising information about where police checks on drivers are taking place.
In this case, the proposal specifically mentions "organised groups" that share this information on social networks or via messaging platforms such as WhatsApp or Telegram.
Portugal aims to follow the example
After the measure was approved in Spain, Portugal also demonstrated its interest in following suit. Joana Teixeira, president of the Portuguese Society of Alcoholism (SPA), in statements to Lusa, states that a similar measure should be adopted in Portugal, noting that it is “completely different” to have a blood alcohol level of o.2 and 0.5, which could have effects on the driver's perception.
This is extremely reasonable. It not only saves the lives of the would-be drinkers but all those poor sober drivers on vacation, taking their children to the mall, taking their significant others to the cinema.
By David Wilson from Algarve on 22 Mar 2025, 20:19
Cheers David. I'm afraid nothing will change in the behavior of the mediterraneans. The state is happy about the extra income, that's all.
By Nick from Lisbon on 23 Mar 2025, 09:20
Comical how some whine in the US about 0.08% (8 gram/liter) limit being too stringent. Get caught and you are fed into a legal woodchipper.
Not sure how that works here but not going to find out!
By Mark from Lisbon on 23 Mar 2025, 19:16
This would be a life saving decision if Portugal followed suit. The statistics for people being killed on the roads is horrendous vs rest of Europe and simply has to be changed. Alkohol is one of the reasons. Also traffic behaviour regarding mad overtakings and tailgating etc in general has to change in this country. The traffic conditions is really bad!!!
By Marty from Algarve on 24 Mar 2025, 10:19
I believe you meant to write 0.02, 0.05 grams or 0.2, 0.5 milligrams
By Aniceto from Other on 24 Mar 2025, 12:54
America has terrible mass transit and even worse death from drunk driving. They are related topics. I support the 0.2 limit being discussed for Portugal but my opinion does not count here. I am happy to see this democracy being managed so efficiently. The government is working as intended even with the problems that have developed. The USA government is not.
By MICHAEL A MORRIS from Beiras on 25 Mar 2025, 15:25