Drunk drivers will now be punished in the same way throughout Belgium. Anyone caught driving with a blood alcohol level of more than 0.8% will have their driver’s license suspended for 15 days on the spot.
Minister of Justice Annelies Verlinden (CD&V) has signed a circular letter to this effect, which takes effect immediately and applies nationwide.
Uniform approach
In recent weeks, there has been discussion about the differences in approach among the Belgian provinces, after the public prosecutors’ offices of Limburg, Antwerp, and Flemish Brabant decided on their own initiative, a few months ago, to revoke driving licenses for 0.8%. At the time, this was not yet the case in East and West Flanders or in Wallonia. Verlinden is now ending these various practices.
Specifically, driving licenses will now be revoked immediately for 15 days if the limit is 0.35 mg/l (breath test) or 0.8% (blood analysis). Previously, the threshold was 0.50 mg/l and 1.15%. The legal alcohol limit for driving remains 0.22 mg/l or 0.5%, but the limit for immediate revocation has been significantly lowered.
Two beers
In principle, an adult male weighing approximately 75 kg can drink two standard glasses (25 cl of beer, 10 cl of wine, or 3 cl of spirits) before reaching the legal limit – sometimes just three for heavier individuals, but that is already risky. For women or lighter individuals, the limit is usually lower. Fatigue, food, and pace also play a major role.
Most EU countries have a limit of 0.5 g/l blood alcohol (=0.5%). Still, some EU countries, such as the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Sweden, Estonia, and Norway, have even stricter limits – often 0.2% or even 0.0%.
One more thing: no EU country has an alcohol interlock as standard and automatically activated for all drivers.
Traffic fatalities on the rise again
Verlinden speaks of a clear signal that dangerous driving will no longer be tolerated. She points out that in the first six months of 2025, the number of traffic fatalities in Belgium rose again, to 209, often during weekends.
According to Verlinden, the fight against driving under the influence of drugs is also being further refined. For example, ketamine will soon be added to the list of illegal substances that can be detected through saliva tests.
In addition, the temporary driving ban for all offenses will be harmonized to 12 hours, so that any driver caught under the influence will be immediately removed from traffic for the same clear period. Today, depending on the offense and circumstances, this can range from 2 to 12 hours.
‘Strengthen the fight against killers on the road’
“The Justice Department, Police, and Mobility are working together to strengthen the fight against killers on the road with a range of measures,” says Verlinden. “The message is clear: anyone who chooses to drink or take drugs behind the wheel knows that they are also choosing to face serious consequences.”
“By setting clear standards in addition to prevention, enforcing them strictly and consistently, and breaking through society’s tolerance of this dangerous driving behavior, we can structurally reduce the number of traffic victims,” the Minister adds. “Lowering the threshold for immediate revocation of a driver’s license for driving under the influence is an important step in this regard.”
During the BOB campaign between late November and early February 2025, the police checked 605,759 drivers for alcohol consumption. Approximately 1.22% of those drivers tested positive, the lowest positive percentage since the start of the BOB campaigns.
