There are four alcohol limits in Queensland. If you’re caught driving with an invalid blood or breath alcohol concentration (BAC), penalties may be applied.
The limits are:
- ‘no alcohol’ limit– If you have more than zero alcohol in your blood or breath, you will be over this limit
- general alcohol limit– When your blood or breath alcohol concentration is greater than or equal to 0.05, you are over this limit
- middle alcohol limit– If your blood or breath alcohol concentration is greater than 0.10, you are over this limit
- high alcohol limit– When your blood or breath alcohol concentration exceeds 0.15, you will be over this limit.
What is the alcohol concentration in blood or breath?
It is determined by determining the amount of alcohol in your body as indicated by the amount of alcohol in your breath or blood. It is measured in grams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. It is estimated that with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.05, 50 milligrams of alcohol are present in your body.
You should know that:
- Drinking increases your blood alcohol concentration (BAC)
- The peak of your blood alcohol concentration will occur between 30 and 60 minutes after you have stopped drinking.
Your BAC may be affected by the following factors:
- The amount of alcohol you consume
- Consumption of alcohol over a given period of time
- how much you weigh
- When was the last time you ate
- How fit you are
- The health of your liver
- The frequency with which you consume alcohol
- your mood
- your gender
- What type(s) of drink(s) you consume.
Legal blood/breath alcohol concentration
Depending on your driving license or vehicle, your legal BAC may vary.
| Licence or situation | Legal blood/breathalcohol concentration (BAC) |
|---|---|
| All learner, P1/P2 provisional, probationary or restricted licence holders (regardless of age) All licence holders learning to drive the next higher class of licence under the authority of their provisional, probationary or open licenceAll class RE motorcycle licence holders for the first 12 months of holding their class RE motorcycle provisional, probationary, restricted or open licence | 0.00 (‘no alcohol’ limit) |
| Open licence holders (However, if you obtain your class RE motorcycle licence, you must ride with a zero BAC in your first year of riding, regardless of your age or the type of vehicle licence you hold) | Below 0.05 (general alcohol limit) |
| All licence holders when driving, or in charge of a:truck (any motor vehicle with a GVM greater than 4.5t)a bus (built or fitted to carry more than 12 adults, including the driver)an articulated motor vehicle (e.g. B-double, or road train)a vehicle carrying a placard load of dangerous goodsa taxi, limousine or other vehicle that is available to be used, about to be used or being used to provide a public passenger service (for example, a driver of a ride-booking vehicle that is on duty to accept bookings)a tow truck, pilot vehicle or escort vehicle escorting an oversize vehiclea vehicle being used by a driver trainer to give driver traininga specially constructed vehicle, including a tractor. | 0.00 (‘no alcohol’ limit |
