If you intend to drive in Europe in the near future, it is vital that you make yourself aware of the drink driving regulations. The limits on how much you can drink and still be considered safe to drive a vehicle vary from country to country as do the penalties that you could receive if caught driving over the limit.
Drink driving is measured by the number of milligrams of alcohol that is present in 100 millilitres of blood. Although this sounds simple, it is not a one-size-fits-all rule as the measure depends on several different parameters, including body size, how much food you have consumed, how fast your metabolisms works and even your stress levels at the time.
The table below, made by https://carhireexcess.insure is an illustration of the drink driving limits in each country in Europe. The majority of countries have set the limit at 0.5mg which is roughly the equivalent of one small beer or a small glass of wine. The UK actually has one of the highest levels at 0.8mg along with Malta, whereas several other countries have a complete ban on drinking and driving, including Belarus, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia and Ukraine. You will also find that within many European countries, they have different rules that apply to novice drivers (generally if you have had your licence for under two years). Germany and Italy for instance, have set the limit at 0.5mg for standard drivers but there is zero tolerance for novice drivers and in many other parts of Europe the set alcohol limit is considerably lower for new drivers than it is for their more experienced counterparts.
Penalties can also vary from place to place and European police do not always require a valid reason to stop and breathalyse you, they are entitled by law to make random spot-checks. If caught drink-driving you can expect anything from a hefty fine to vehicle confiscation, loss of licence and even a prison sentence.
For your own safety and peace of mind, be sure to check the guidelines carefully before drinking alcohol and then getting behind the wheel. Of course, as is the advice in all countries, the simplest way to really be sure you are not over the limit is to avoid alcohol completely if you know that you will be driving.