Safety

Zero alcohol for drivers is coming. Here's the limit you face today

SA's drink-driving limit is still 0.05g per 100ml of blood. Government wants a zero limit approved by Cabinet by end-2026, but Parliament must still pass it.

By Reported Team

Police officer giving a driver a breathalyser test
Oregon Department of Transportation, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

South Africa's drink-driving limit has not changed yet. You can still legally drive with less than 0.05 grams of alcohol per 100ml of blood, but the government wants to cut that to zero and is aiming for Cabinet approval by the end of 2026 (SAnews).

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy said in September that the change would be made to section 65 of the National Road Traffic Act. Her department was still getting sign-off from the Chief State Law Advisor and a socio-economic impact assessment before taking it to Cabinet (SAnews). Legal experts have since raised concerns about how a zero limit would work in practice (BusinessTech).

What is the legal alcohol limit right now?

DriverBlood limitBreath limit
Ordinary driversUnder 0.05g per 100mlUnder 0.24mg per 1,000ml
Professional drivers (PrDP holders)Under 0.02g per 100mlUnder 0.10mg per 1,000ml

Source: National Road Traffic Act, section 65, Arrive Alive

The law also covers sitting in the driver's seat with the engine running on a public road, not only driving. Separately, it is an offence to drive while "under the influence" of alcohol or drugs, whatever the reading (National Road Traffic Act, section 65).

Can you refuse a breathalyser or blood test?

No. The Act says no person may refuse to give a blood or breath specimen (Arrive Alive). If you're over the limit at a roadblock, you'll usually be arrested, have blood drawn by a doctor or nurse, and stay in custody until bail is posted (AA).

When will the zero limit start?

There is no start date. The amendment still needs Cabinet approval, and then it must go through Parliament, including public comment, before it can become law (Movendi International).

This has stalled before. Parliament passed the National Road Traffic Amendment Bill in 2022 but rejected its proposed cut to the alcohol limits (Parliament). The bill became law in December 2024 without that clause, and Cosatu has since asked Parliament to bring it back (EWN).

Why does government want zero?

More than 18,000 people were arrested for drunk driving between March and the end of August 2026, a third of all traffic arrests in that period, Creecy said (SAnews). Between 1 January and 23 August 2026, 6,457 people died on SA roads (Movendi International).

Until a new law is passed and gazetted, the current limits in the table above are the ones police enforce.

FAQ

Is there a zero alcohol limit for drivers in South Africa?

Not yet. The limit is still under 0.05g per 100ml of blood for ordinary drivers. Government wants Cabinet approval for a zero limit by the end of 2026, after which Parliament must pass it.

What is the legal breath alcohol limit in South Africa?

Under 0.24mg per 1,000ml of breath for ordinary drivers and under 0.10mg for professional drivers.

Can I refuse a breathalyser test in South Africa?

No. The National Road Traffic Act says no person may refuse to give a blood or breath specimen.

Sources