Requirements
New drivers and alcohol: when does the zero limit apply?
The zero-alcohol rule applies to drivers under 21 and during the first three years after obtaining a B licence.
Article 186-bis prohibits driving after drinking for drivers under 21 and for those in the first three years after obtaining category B; age and B-licence seniority are separate tests.
Age and the first three years are separate tests
The law does not limit this prohibition to newly qualified drivers. Article 186-bis includes drivers under 21 and, separately, anyone in the first three years after obtaining a B licence. Falling into either group is enough for the specific rule to apply: a long-held licence does not exclude a driver who is still 20, and being over 21 does not exclude someone who has just obtained B.
For example, a 20-year-old who has held B for four years is still included because of age; a 25-year-old who obtained B a year ago is included because of the three-year period. The provision prohibits driving after consuming alcohol and while under its influence; the specific threshold in the article starts above zero. There is therefore no amount of drink that can be promised compatible with driving for these drivers.
Do not confuse it with the general limit
For drivers outside the groups in article 186-bis, the general limit in article 186 applies. That does not mean alcohol is risk-free or affects everyone in the same way. Article 186-bis also covers other professional groups and certain heavy vehicle categories, so this title does not describe every situation regulated by the provision.
If you need to drive, the prudent choice is not to drink, especially if you are under 21 or within the first three years of B. Travel time, body weight and drink type do not turn the prohibition into an individual estimate. Quiz Patente Ufficiale helps study Highway Code rules through chapters, quizzes, explanations and error review; it cannot calculate blood alcohol or declare a trip safe after drinking.
Quiz Patente Ufficiale helps review alcohol and driving rules through chapters, quizzes, explanations and error review.
Frequently asked questions
Does the rule apply only to drivers who just passed their test?
No. It also applies to all drivers under 21, even with an older licence. The three-year criterion applies specifically to category B.
Does a 22-year-old with a one-year-old B licence fall under the zero limit?
Yes. They are within the first three years after obtaining B, despite being over 21.