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Alcohol limits for new drivers in NL and BE

· 2 min read · Nederlandse versie

Reviewed by Editorial team, safety check

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The Netherlands has a lower limit for new drivers, Belgium for professional drivers. The numbers side by side, with sources.

In the Netherlands, new drivers have a lower alcohol limit than experienced drivers. Belgium works differently: the lower limit applies to professional drivers, not to beginners. The table below comes from the same country data as the app.

CountryLicenceLimit
AlbaniaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.1 ‰
Novice driverFirst 2 years after getting a licence0.0 ‰
AlgeriaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.1 ‰
AndorraChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
Novice driverFirst 2 years after getting a licence0.0 ‰
Professional driverWhile driving for work: truck, ambulance0.0 ‰
AngolaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.6 ‰
Antigua & BarbudaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.8 ‰
ArgentinaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.0 ‰
ArmeniaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.2 ‰
AustraliaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
Novice driverFirst 4 years after getting a licence0.0 ‰
Professional driverWhile driving for work: truck, bus, taxi0.0 ‰
AustriaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
Novice driverFirst 3 years after getting a licence0.1 ‰
Professional driverWhile driving for work: truck, bus0.1 ‰
AzerbaijanChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.0 ‰
BahamasChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.8 ‰
BahrainChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.0 ‰
BangladeshChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.0 ‰
BarbadosChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.0 ‰
BelarusChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.0 ‰
BelgiumChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
Professional driverWhile driving for work: truck, bus, taxi, ambulance0.2 ‰
BelizeChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.8 ‰
BeninChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
BhutanChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.8 ‰
Novice driverFirst 2 years after getting a licence0.0 ‰
Professional driverWhile driving for work: truck, bus, taxi0.0 ‰
BoliviaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
Bosnia & HerzegovinaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.3 ‰
Novice driverFirst 3 years after getting a licence, or under 21 years old0.0 ‰
Professional driverWhile driving for work: truck, bus, taxi0.0 ‰
BotswanaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
BrazilChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.0 ‰
BulgariaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
Burkina FasoChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
BurundiChecked on 17 Oct 2026StandardNo statutory limit in law; DrinkBuddy uses 0 ‰.0.0 ‰
CambodiaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.4 ‰
CameroonChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.8 ‰
CanadaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.4 ‰
Novice driverUnder 22 years old0.0 ‰
Professional driverWhile driving for work: truck, bus0.0 ‰
Cape VerdeChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
Central African RepublicChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
ChadChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.0 ‰
ChileChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.3 ‰
ChinaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.2 ‰
ColombiaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.2 ‰
ComorosChecked on 17 Oct 2026StandardNo statutory limit in law; DrinkBuddy uses 0 ‰.0.0 ‰
Congo - BrazzavilleChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
Congo - KinshasaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
Costa RicaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
Novice driverFirst 3 years after getting a licence0.2 ‰
Professional driverWhile driving for work: taxi, bus, truck0.2 ‰
Côte d’IvoireChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.8 ‰
Novice driverFirst 3 years after getting a licence0.0 ‰
CroatiaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
Novice driverUnder 24 years old0.0 ‰
Professional driverWhile driving for work: truck, bus, taxi0.0 ‰
CubaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.1 ‰
Novice driverFirst 2 years after getting a licence0.0 ‰
Professional driverWhile driving for work: taxi, bus, truck0.0 ‰
CyprusChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
Novice driverFirst 3 years after getting a licence0.2 ‰
Professional driverWhile driving for work: truck, bus, taxi0.2 ‰
CzechiaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.0 ‰
DenmarkChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
DjiboutiChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.0 ‰
DominicaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.8 ‰
Dominican RepublicChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
Professional driverWhile driving for work: taxi, bus, truck0.0 ‰
EcuadorChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.3 ‰
Professional driverWhile driving for work: taxi, bus, truck0.1 ‰
EgyptChecked on 17 Oct 2026StandardNo statutory limit in law; DrinkBuddy uses 0 ‰.0.0 ‰
El SalvadorChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.0 ‰
Equatorial GuineaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
EritreaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.4 ‰
Professional driverWhile driving for work: truck, bus, taxi0.3 ‰
EstoniaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.2 ‰
EswatiniChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.4 ‰
EthiopiaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.3 ‰
FinlandChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
FranceChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
Novice driverFirst 3 years after getting a licence0.2 ‰
Professional driverWhile driving for work: bus0.2 ‰
GabonChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.8 ‰
GambiaChecked on 17 Oct 2026StandardNo statutory limit in law; DrinkBuddy uses 0 ‰.0.0 ‰
GeorgiaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.3 ‰
GermanyChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
Novice driverFirst 2 years after getting a licence, or under 21 years old0.0 ‰
Professional driverWhile driving for work: bus0.0 ‰
GhanaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.8 ‰
GreeceChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
Novice driverFirst 2 years after getting a licence0.2 ‰
Professional driverWhile driving for work: truck, bus0.2 ‰
GrenadaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.0 ‰
GuatemalaChecked on 17 Oct 2026StandardNo statutory limit in law; DrinkBuddy uses 0 ‰.0.0 ‰
GuineaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.8 ‰
Guinea-BissauChecked on 17 Oct 2026StandardNo statutory limit in law; DrinkBuddy uses 0 ‰.0.0 ‰
GuyanaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.8 ‰
HondurasChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
Professional driverWhile driving for work: taxi, bus, truck0.2 ‰
Hong Kong SAR ChinaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
HungaryChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.0 ‰
IcelandChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.2 ‰
IndiaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.3 ‰
IndonesiaChecked on 17 Oct 2026StandardNo statutory limit in law; DrinkBuddy uses 0 ‰.0.0 ‰
IrelandChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
Novice driverFirst 2 years after getting a licence0.2 ‰
Professional driverWhile driving for work: bus, truck, taxi0.2 ‰
IsraelChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
Novice driverFirst 2 years after getting a licence, or under 24 years old0.1 ‰
Professional driverWhile driving for work: truck, bus, taxi0.1 ‰
ItalyChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
Novice driverFirst 3 years after getting a licence, or under 21 years old0.0 ‰
Professional driverWhile driving for work: truck, bus, taxi0.0 ‰
JamaicaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.8 ‰
JapanChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.3 ‰
JordanChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
KazakhstanChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.0 ‰
KenyaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.8 ‰
KyrgyzstanChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.3 ‰
LaosChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
LatviaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
Novice driverFirst 2 years after getting a licence0.2 ‰
Professional driverWhile driving for work: bus0.2 ‰
LebanonChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.2 ‰
Novice driverFirst 2 years after getting a licence0.0 ‰
Professional driverWhile driving for work: truck, bus, taxi0.0 ‰
LesothoChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.8 ‰
LiberiaChecked on 17 Oct 2026StandardNo statutory limit in law; DrinkBuddy uses 0 ‰.0.0 ‰
LiechtensteinChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.8 ‰
LithuaniaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.4 ‰
Novice driverFirst 2 years after getting a licence0.0 ‰
Professional driverWhile driving for work: truck, bus, taxi0.0 ‰
LuxembourgChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
Novice driverUnder 18 years old0.2 ‰
Professional driverWhile driving for work: taxi, ambulance, bus, truck0.2 ‰
MadagascarChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.4 ‰
MalawiChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.8 ‰
MalaysiaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
MaldivesChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.0 ‰
MaliChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.0 ‰
MaltaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
Novice driverFirst 3 years after getting a licence0.2 ‰
Professional driverWhile driving for work: bus, truck0.0 ‰
Marshall IslandsChecked on 17 Oct 2026StandardNo statutory limit in law; DrinkBuddy uses 0 ‰.0.0 ‰
MauritiusChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
MexicoChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
Professional driverWhile driving for work: taxi, bus, truck0.0 ‰
MoldovaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.3 ‰
MonacoChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
MongoliaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.2 ‰
MontenegroChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.3 ‰
MoroccoChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.2 ‰
MozambiqueChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.6 ‰
Professional driverWhile driving for work: truck, bus, taxi0.0 ‰
Novice driverFirst 3 years after getting a licence0.0 ‰
Myanmar (Burma)Checked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
NamibiaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
NepalChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.0 ‰
NetherlandsChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
Novice driverFirst 5 years after getting a licence0.2 ‰
New ZealandChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
Novice driverUnder 20 years old0.0 ‰
NicaraguaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
Professional driverWhile driving for work: taxi, bus, truck0.2 ‰
NigerChecked on 17 Oct 2026StandardNo statutory limit in law; DrinkBuddy uses 0 ‰.0.0 ‰
NigeriaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
North MacedoniaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
Novice driverFirst 2 years after getting a licence0.0 ‰
Professional driverWhile driving for work: truck, bus, taxi0.0 ‰
NorwayChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.2 ‰
OmanChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.0 ‰
PakistanChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.0 ‰
PanamaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.0 ‰
ParaguayChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.0 ‰
PeruChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
Professional driverWhile driving for work: taxi, bus, truck0.0 ‰
PhilippinesChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
Professional driverWhile driving for work: truck, bus, taxi0.1 ‰
PolandChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.2 ‰
PortugalChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
Novice driverFirst 3 years after getting a licence0.2 ‰
Professional driverWhile driving for work: taxi, bus, truck, ambulance0.2 ‰
QatarChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.0 ‰
RomaniaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.0 ‰
RussiaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.3 ‰
RwandaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.8 ‰
San MarinoChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
Novice driverFirst 3 years after getting a licence, or under 18 years old0.0 ‰
São Tomé & PríncipeChecked on 17 Oct 2026StandardNo statutory limit in law; DrinkBuddy uses 0 ‰.0.0 ‰
SenegalChecked on 17 Oct 2026StandardNo statutory limit in law; DrinkBuddy uses 0 ‰.0.0 ‰
SerbiaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.2 ‰
Novice driverFirst 2 years after getting a licence0.0 ‰
Professional driverWhile driving for work: truck, bus, taxi0.0 ‰
SeychellesChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.8 ‰
Sierra LeoneChecked on 17 Oct 2026StandardNo statutory limit in law; DrinkBuddy uses 0 ‰.0.0 ‰
SingaporeChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.3 ‰
SlovakiaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.0 ‰
SloveniaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
Novice driverFirst 2 years after getting a licence0.0 ‰
Professional driverWhile driving for work: truck, bus, taxi0.0 ‰
South AfricaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
Professional driverWhile driving for work: truck, bus, taxi0.2 ‰
South KoreaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.3 ‰
Professional driverWhile driving for work: truck, bus, taxi0.2 ‰
South SudanChecked on 17 Oct 2026StandardNo statutory limit in law; DrinkBuddy uses 0 ‰.0.0 ‰
SpainChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
Novice driverFirst 2 years after getting a licence0.3 ‰
Professional driverWhile driving for work: truck, bus, taxi, ambulance0.3 ‰
Sri LankaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.6 ‰
St Kitts & NevisChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.8 ‰
St LuciaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.8 ‰
St Vincent & the GrenadinesChecked on 17 Oct 2026StandardNo statutory limit in law; DrinkBuddy uses 0 ‰.0.0 ‰
SurinameChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
Novice driverFirst 2 years after getting a licence0.3 ‰
SwedenChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.2 ‰
SwitzerlandChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
Novice driverFirst 3 years after getting a licence0.1 ‰
Professional driverWhile driving for work: truck, bus0.1 ‰
SyriaChecked on 17 Oct 2026StandardNo statutory limit in law; DrinkBuddy uses 0 ‰.0.0 ‰
TaiwanChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.3 ‰
TajikistanChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.0 ‰
TanzaniaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.8 ‰
Professional driverWhile driving for work: truck, bus, taxi0.0 ‰
ThailandChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
Novice driverFirst 2 years after getting a licence0.2 ‰
Professional driverWhile driving for work: truck, bus, taxi0.0 ‰
Timor-LesteChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
TogoChecked on 17 Oct 2026StandardNo statutory limit in law; DrinkBuddy uses 0 ‰.0.0 ‰
Trinidad & TobagoChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.8 ‰
TunisiaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.3 ‰
TürkiyeChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
Professional driverWhile driving for work: taxi, bus, truck0.2 ‰
UgandaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.8 ‰
Novice driverFirst 3 years after getting a licence0.2 ‰
UkraineChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.2 ‰
United Arab EmiratesChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.0 ‰
United KingdomChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
United StatesChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.5 ‰
Novice driverUnder 21 years old0.0 ‰
Professional driverWhile driving for work: truck, bus0.4 ‰
UruguayChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.0 ‰
UzbekistanChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.0 ‰
VenezuelaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.8 ‰
VietnamChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.0 ‰
ZambiaChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.8 ‰
ZimbabweChecked on 17 Oct 2026Standard0.8 ‰

Differs per region

In these countries the limit differs per state, province or nation. The table above shows the lowest limit; pick your region in the app for the limit that applies there.

Canada
Other provinces and territoriesStandard0.5 ‰
Novice driver0.0 ‰
Professional driver0.0 ‰
QuebecStandard0.8 ‰
Novice driver0.0 ‰
Professional driver0.0 ‰
SaskatchewanStandard0.4 ‰
Novice driver0.0 ‰
Professional driver0.0 ‰
United Kingdom
England, Wales and Northern IrelandStandard0.8 ‰
ScotlandStandard0.5 ‰
United States
Other statesStandard0.8 ‰
Novice driver0.0 ‰
Professional driver0.4 ‰
UtahStandard0.5 ‰
Novice driver0.0 ‰
Professional driver0.4 ‰

The Netherlands

If your licence is less than five years old you are a new driver and the lower limit applies. If you get your first licence, you are a beginner for five years.

At a high reading the CBR can also impose a measure. The Dutch government explains when: read that page for the current rules.

Belgium

The general limit is the same as in the Netherlands. A lower limit applies to professional drivers, such as drivers of lorries, buses and taxis. In our sources and country data we find no separate lower limit for new drivers. Check that with the Belgian authorities, and do not take it as a reason to drink more.

What this means for you

A limit tells you what is punishable, not what is wise. You can react worse even under the limit. The app follows the same cautious line: the battery reads the most cautious edge of the estimate, and in doubt you don’t drive.

Check the rules. Laws change and depend on the situation. Always look at the government site of the country where you drive.

Note. This is an estimate, not a measurement. In doubt? Leave the car.

Sources

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