Spain is proposing a significant tightening of its drink-driving laws, which could see UK tourists hit with fines of up to £875 for consuming just one beer before getting behind the wheel. The new rules, set to be enforced by the end of the year, would apply to all drivers, including those on bicycles and e-scooters.
The country’s traffic authority, the DGT, aims to introduce a universal alcohol limit of 0.2g per litre of blood or 0.1mg per litre of breath. This is almost zero tolerance, meaning even a small glass of wine or beer could exceed the threshold. The move is intended to reduce alcohol-related accidents, which caused 312 deaths and 518 serious injuries in 4,283 incidents in 2022.
Anyone caught over the limit could face fines between €500 (£435) and €1,000 (£875), depending on the alcohol level and whether they are a repeat offender. Other penalties could include a prison sentence of three to six months, community service, or a driving ban of up to four years. Drivers also risk having points deducted from their licence under Spain’s 12-point system.
The proposed law follows a recent incident in Palma where a 23-year-old drunk driver crashed into a bar and then ordered a beer. Jesús Monclús of the Mapfre Foundation said the proposal should be understood as ‘not a single alcoholic drink if I’m going to drive’. DGT’s Álvaro Gómez noted that similar limits in Sweden and Norway led to a significant reduction in accidents.
This is not the only change affecting tourists. In party hotspots like Mallorca and Ibiza, all-inclusive deals now have a six-drink daily limit, with three at lunch and three at dinner. Pub crawls have also been banned on Magaluf’s strip. The message is clear: if you plan to drive, don’t drink.
