LSM examines calls for zero alcohol limit for Latvian drivers

Latvia’s current general blood alcohol limit for drivers is 0.5 parts per thousand, but experts say zero is the safest threshold, LSM’s television programme Aizliegtais paņēmiens reports. The Transport Ministry has not assessed introducing a zero limit for all drivers.

Before parliamentary elections, politicians expressed support for a zero limit. The public also supports the idea but doubts politicians will put it into practice. A traffic safety expert backs banning any alcohol before driving, while traffic journalist Timrots is sceptical about introducing a zero threshold. The Health Ministry also supports a zero limit, and an international expert says the safest threshold is scientifically clear: zero.

Latvia’s 0.5 limit applies to most drivers. Drivers with less than two years’ experience and professional drivers face a lower limit of 0.2. The report says 0.5 is common in Western Europe, while among the Baltic, Nordic and Central European countries, only Finland allows the same limit as Latvia. Lithuania’s limit is 0.4; Estonia, Sweden and Poland set it at 0.2. Czechia, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia have a zero limit. Russia and Belarus set theirs at 0.3.

The programme also notes that Czechia has had a zero-alcohol policy for a long time and that Latvia has seen several previous attempts to change its limit. It recalls a 2014 experiment by Aizliegtais paņēmiens and says former welfare minister Reinis Uzulnieks lost his post, reputation and car after driving under the influence.