What Are the Drink Driving Limits in Queensland?
Queensland sets different drink driving limits by licence type, and for many drivers the limit is zero. Knowing who must be 0.00 and how the alcohol bands work helps you understand the offence under s 79 and why drug driving is treated separately.
This page expands the existing guidance with the full list of zero alcohol drivers, the general, middle and high bands for open licences and a pointer to drug driving.
Who must be 0.00 and the bands
Queensland drink driving offences are in s 79 of the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995 (Qld).
A no alcohol limit (0.00) applies to all learner, P1 and P2 provisional, probationary and restricted licence holders, licence holders learning to drive a higher licence class, class RE motorcycle riders in their first 12 months, drivers with an interlock condition, and anyone driving a truck over 4.5 tonnes GVM, a bus built to carry more than 12 adults, an articulated vehicle, a vehicle carrying a placard load of dangerous goods, a taxi, limousine or on-duty ride-booking vehicle, a tow truck or escort vehicle, a driver trainer’s vehicle, or a specially constructed vehicle such as a tractor.
For open licence holders the general alcohol limit is 0.05.
The middle alcohol limit is 0.10 and the high alcohol limit is 0.15. Penalties increase by band, with higher readings attracting more serious consequences, including higher fines and longer licence disqualifications.
Driving with a relevant drug present, or under the influence, is a separate offence from drink driving, with its own testing and penalties.
| Licence or vehicle | Limit |
|---|---|
| Learner, P1, P2, probationary, restricted | 0.00 |
| Learning a higher class, RE first 12 months, interlock condition | 0.00 |
| Truck >4.5t, bus >12 adults, articulated, dangerous goods, taxi, limousine, ride-booking on duty, tow, escort, trainer, tractor | 0.00 |
| Open licence | 0.05 |
| Middle band | 0.10 |
| High band | 0.15 |
Example
A P2 driver has two light beers at a barbecue and is tested at 0.02. That reading is an offence because the P2 must be 0.00. An open licence holder tested at the same 0.02 reading would be below the general limit of 0.05 and would not be over the drink driving limit on that basis, although drug driving remains a separate test.
See Also
- Drug driving and licence loss
- Drink driving on private property
- How to apply for a work licence
- Drink driving charges
This page provides general legal information only; it is not personal legal advice. Everyone’s situation is different, so please seek independent legal advice for your own circumstances.
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