Drink Drive Penalties & Punishments UK
Although the exact sentence you will receive will depend on the circumstances of your offence and will also take into account any previous convictions you have of a similar nature i.e. drink driving / access alcohol the court system in England and Wales uses set guidance when handing down sentences. For a standard drink drive charge this will be based on the reading of your breathalyser result i.e. how far over the drink drive limit you were when you were arrested. It may also be effected by aggravating factors such as having children in your car when the offence took place or evidence that you drove while under the influence for a protracted period.
The below table details maximum punishments that are set in law for drink driving offences.
| Drink Drive Offence | Prison Sentence | Fine | Driving Ban 12 to 36 Months | Penalty Points | Endorsement Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driving or attempting to drive while unfit | 6 Months | £5,000 | Obligatory | 3 to 11 – As well as ban | DR20 (drink) DR80 (drugs) |
| Driving or attempting to drive with excess alcohol | 6 Months | £5,000 | Obligatory | 3 to 11 – As well as ban | DR10 |
| In charge of a vehicle while unfit through drink | 3 Months | £5,000 | Discretionary | 10 | DR50 (drink) DR90 (drugs) |
| In charge with excess alcohol | 3 Months | £2,500 | Discretionary | 10 | DR40 |
| Failing to co-operate with a preliminary test | N/A | £1,000 | Discretionary | 4 | DR70 |
| Failing or refusing to supply an evidential specimen when “driving or attempting to drive” | 6 Months | £5,000 | Obligatory | 3 to 11 – As well as ban | DR30 |
| Failing or refusing to provide an evidential specimen when not “driving or attempting to drive” | 3 Months | £2,500 | Discretionary | 10 | DR60 |
| Failure to allow specimen to be subjected to laboratory test when “driving or attempting to drive” | 6 Months | £5,000 | Obligatory | 3 to 11 – As well as ban | – |
| Failure to allow specimen to be subjected to laboratory test when not “driving or attempting to drive” | 3 Months | £2,500 | Discretionary | 10 | – |
| Causing death by careless driving under the influence of drink or drugs | 14 Years | Unlimited | 2 Years Minimum | 3 – 11 | CD40 (drink) CD50 (drugs) CD60 (excess alcohol) |
| Causing death by careless driving and then failing to supply specimen for analysis | 14 Years | Unlimited | 2 Years Minimum | 3 – 11 | CD70 |
