Latest News from the World of Breathalyzers
UK motorists heading to Europe this summer are being urged to brush up on local motoring laws – or risk steep fines and even jail time.
With Spain and France topping the destination list for British tourists, drivers may be caught out by far tougher legal limits and stricter enforcement.
Spain is set to reduce its drink drive limit this year to just 20µg of alcohol per 100ml of blood (0.20‰ BAC / 0.10 mg/L in Breath) – one quarter of the English and Welsh limit of 80µg (0.35 mg/L in Breath) – meaning even a single drink could tip drivers over the line. The change will bring Spain in line with countries like Sweden, Poland and Norway.
“In Spain, if you’re over the limit, you could be fined €1,000 or more,” says Hunter Abbott, Managing Director of personal breathalyser firm AlcoSense. “The safest approach is to avoid alcohol entirely before driving – or if in any doubt, self-test to check you're safe to drive, especially the morning after drinking.”
The warning comes as a Freedom of Information Request by AlcoSense reveals that Spanish authorities have submitted more than 37,000 requests to the UK’s DVLA since March 2023 to access British driver details – including 7,000 already this year. The requests are part of a bilateral agreement allowing Spain to pursue UK motorists for offences like speeding, red light violations and drink driving - even once they’ve returned home.
Meanwhile, French authorities have continued to send tens of thousands of motoring fines to UK homes, despite no formal post-Brexit data-sharing agreement. A French government report has revealed that 62,780 fines were issued to UK-registered vehicles in 2023, up from 59,836 the previous year – even though the UK is no longer listed as a data-sharing ‘partner’.
How this is happening remains unclear, but enforcement is ramping up. France has dramatically stepped-up roadside testing after a rise in fatal accidents linked to alcohol or drugs. French police are 20 times more likely to breathalyse drivers than their UK counterparts. They test 109 drivers per 1,000 people, compared to just 5 per 1,000 in Britain. In Spain the figure is 96 per 1,000.
The drink drive limit in England and Wales is higher than all other countries in Europe.
France, Germany, Italy and Portugal all impose a limit of 0.50‰ and novice drivers often face even stricter thresholds.
“The penalties abroad can be severe. In France you could face a €4,500 fine and up to two years in prison,” warns Abbott.
“Many drivers don’t realise that alcohol can stay in the system for hours after drinking – four large glasses of wine can take up to 14 hours to fully clear.”
Abbott recommends motorists take a twin-pack of certified single-use breathalysers when heading across the Channel to remove uncertainty. In France, it’s still advised (though no longer legally required) to carry a certified breathalyser in your vehicle.
“Whether you’re hiring a car abroad or driving your own, you’re subject to the local laws,” he adds.
“Random breath testing is carried out in all EU countries except Germany - whereas in the UK you can only be tested if you’ve committed a traffic offence, been involved in an accident or Police have reason to suspect you’ve been drinking.
“This makes it far more likely that you’ll be breathalysed abroad”.
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11 August 2025
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More drink drivers caught than 10 years ago in Northern Ireland
More motorists in Northern Ireland are being caught drink driving than a decade ago, new figures reveal.
Data released by PSNI shows that last year 3,837 drivers failed a roadside breath test or refused to provide a sample.
This contrasts with 3,386 in 2015 – an increase of 13%.
The number of tests conducted was also up 15% compared with ten years ago – with 31,617 motorists stopped by Police in 2024.
Northern Ireland drivers are four times more likely to be breathalysed than in England - with 16 tests per 1,000 population compared to just 4.
“It’s disappointing that so many drivers are still found to be over the legal limit”, comments Hunter Abbott, MD of personal breathalyser firm AlcoSense.
“In fact the number of motorists failing the test has increased from one in ten, to one in eight, over the past 15 years”.
- Two fifths (39%) of breath tests conducted in 2024 were as a result of road traffic collisions. The worst time of day was between 3am and 6am when one in four motorists (24%) tested positive.
- The highest number of tests was carried out on Sundays, which also saw the biggest number of failures.
- Separate figures published by PSNI show a 6% increase in drink or drug driving offences referred for prosecution, compared with 2015.
- Men accounted for four fifths of the offences and over half (55%) were in the 30-49 age group.
- Belfast City was the drink/drug drive hotspot with 538 offences detected – a rate of 19 per 10,000 adult population.
- Fermanagh & Omagh (229 offences) recorded the highest percentage rate, with 25 per 10,000.
- Lisburn & Castlereagh City had the fewest detections (179), whilst Ards and North Down had the lowest rate per 10,000 population (14).
“A breath test failure rate of 12% does at least compare favourably with England and Wales, where it’s 16%,” adds Hunter Abbott.
“Even if you feel fine the next morning, alcohol can still be in your system – impairing your reactions and judgment. If unsure whether you’re safe to drive, the only way to be certain is to use a personal breathalyser”.
All convicted drink drivers in Northern Ireland are now automatically referred to a rehabilitation training course. Those completing the course will see their disqualification period cut by up to 25%.
Penalties for driving when above the legal limit can include six months in prison, a fine of up to £5,000 and/or a ban for at least 12 months.
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4 June 2025
Sources:
https://www.psni.police.uk/sites/default/files/2025-05/Preliminary%20Breath%20Tests%20NI%202024.pdf
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