Madrid and Barcelona have formally asked the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) to lower Spain’s legal blood alcohol limit for drivers to almost zero. DGT chief Pere Navarro said both city councils, along with the Federación Española de Municipios y Provincias, are pushing for 0.0 alcohol consumption and much tighter checks on drivers.
The government is considering cutting the maximum blood alcohol level from 0.5 grams per litre to 0.2 grams. For breath tests, the limit would fall from 0.25 to 0.1 milligrams per litre. The draft law stops short of setting a true zero limit, but Navarro said even one beer could put a driver over the line. The current general blood alcohol limit is 0.5 g/l, with stricter thresholds for novice and professional drivers, and a zero limit for underage drivers, Democrata reports. Official figures from the Congreso de los Diputados show the lower house approved the reform at its first reading on September 29, 2026. The vote was close: 173 in favor, 168 against, while 5 abstained.
Navarro said the proposal has backing beyond the two cities. "All the experts recommend it, we follow the recommendation of the WHO and the European Commission," he said. He pointed to Norway and Sweden, where stricter limits are already in place. The World Health Organization recommends a threshold of 0.2 g/l. Navarro called this "tolerance zero."
The law would not set the limit at a full 0.0 because some foods and cooking methods can leave tiny traces of alcohol in the body. A small margin is needed to ensure drivers are not punished unfairly. Still, any alcohol before driving carries a risk. Several Spanish media outlets have reported that the law remains under review in parliament. It will take effect only after full approval and publication in the official state bulletin (BOE). If passed, the new limits could start two months after publication.
Spain has debated drink-driving limits before. A similar proposal was previously rejected in committee, making the current legislative push a renewed effort, Democrata reports. The reform is part of a broader shift in the country’s approach to road safety. The latest changes to the Reglamento General de Circulación took effect on October 1. The law now gives greater weight to people and city life alongside cars and roads. For the first time, it defines “vulnerable road users.” The group includes pedestrians and cyclists, as well as motorcyclists and users of personal mobility vehicles. It also covers children, older people and people with disabilities.
The DGT wants to lower alcohol limits and protect these groups, aiming to reduce the number and severity of road accidents in Spanish cities. The changes reflect how much urban travel has changed over the last 20 years. Whether the rules will lead to fewer crashes and shift attitudes toward drinking and driving remains an open question.
