Antwerp Lowers Legal Blood Alcohol Limit for Drivers, Licenses to Be Seized Under New Rules
Starting in September, Antwerp prosecutors will enforce stricter blood alcohol limits for drivers, with licenses at risk for lower thresholds than before
Authorities in Antwerp have announced a significant change to the legal blood alcohol limit for drivers, set to take effect at the beginning of September. Under the new policy, drivers found with a blood alcohol content of 0.8‰ or higher will now face the risk of having their license confiscated. Previously, licenses were only seized for levels starting at 1.15‰, marking a notable tightening of regulations.
According to a statement from the Antwerp prosecutor’s office, the 0.8‰ threshold roughly equates to a man drinking six beers or a woman consuming four beers within two hours. This stricter standard has already applied to novice drivers with less than two years behind the wheel, and with the change, Antwerp is now aligning with similar measures in the neighboring Limburg region.
The aim of the new rules is to improve road safety and encourage more responsible behavior before getting behind the wheel. Officials hope that by lowering the legal alcohol limit and enforcing stricter penalties, they can reduce the number of alcohol-related traffic accidents and promote safer driving habits among the public.
