Drinking and Driving: The Laws in Other Countries

Other countries have different laws than the US. Some are more lenient and some are harsher. In Australia, the blood alcohol content is .05, and lower (.02) for new drivers and those with learner's permits. The punishment for drinking and driving in Australia includes fines, suspension of license, imprisonment, and medical assessment before a driver's license is reinstated.

In some countries, drinking and driving is punishable by death. A first time offense in El Salvador leads to execution by firing squad, while a second offense in Bulgaria also leads to execution.

In France, drinking and driving is punishable by the equivalent of a $1,000 fine, imprisonment for one year, and loss of license for three years. Finland and Sweden automatically sentence drunk drivers to one-year jail sentences including hard labor. In Norway, a drunk driver is jailed for three weeks with hard labor and loses their license for a year. If they do it again, they lose their license forever. In South Africa, drinking and driving results in a ten-year prison sentence or the equivalent of a $10,000 fine and, in some cases, both.

Some countries are more creative in their attempts to keep the inebriated off the road.
Turkey, for example, punishes drunk drivers by taking them 20 miles from their town and making them walk back with a police escort.
In Poland, drunk drivers are subject to jail, fine, and even worse, mandatory attendance at political lectures.
In Malaya, if a man is caught driving drunk he is jailed. If he is married, his wife is jailed, too"


But my favourite quote.......

"In Canada, the first drinking and driving offense warrants loss of license for one year and the equivalent of a $600 fine. The second offense warrants two weeks in jail and loss of license for two years. The third offense warrants three months in jail and loss of license for three years.

After the fourth, they might just send you to America.! "