BAC Calculator
beer.icon | icon
[[translations.beer]]
beer.alcoholRate % beer.volume [[translations.volumeUnit]]
x filterQtyBeer
wine.icon | icon
[[translations.wine]]
wine.alcoholRate % wine.volume [[translations.volumeUnit]]
x filterQtyWine
spiritis.icon | icon
[[translations.spiritis]]
spiritis.alcoholRate % spiritis.volume [[translations.volumeUnit]]
x filterQtySpiritis
[[translations.instructions]] ' ' | help(translations.instructionsToolTip)
[[translations.resultTitle]] : resultAlcohol
resultHoursBeforeLegalText
resultHoursBeforeText
Alcohol and driving do not mix.
Want to know if you're fit to drive after drinking? Our blood alcohol concentration calculator above can help you estimate if you are able to legally drive. Remember that the above is only a tool. It will show you how with just a couple of drinks you may well be over the legal limit. If you have any doubts about your ability to drive legally and safely, don't get behind the wheel of a car. Make alternative arrangements or wait.
In the guide below, we will also give you information about what the Canadian law states about drink-driving, what are the authorized limits, the limits not to cross, and the sanctions.
Drinking and driving
Drunk driving is a serious offence, regardless of the province you find yourself in.
The federal Criminal Code dictates the impaired driving offences, penalties and enforcement procedures in Canada. All of these laws are based on the .08% BAC legal limit. BAC stands for blood alcohol concentration, or blood alcohol content. It is frequently measured using a Breathalyzer test.
Impaired driving penalties in Canada
Below, you will see a table showing the penalties for drink-driving depending on the number of times you've been convicted:
| Offence | BAC level | Fine | Mandatory Prison time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st time | .08% to .119% | Minimum of $1,000 | |
| - | .120% to .159% | Minimum of $1,500 | |
| - | .160 or higher | Minimum of $2,000 | |
| 2nd time | Over .08% | Minimum of 30 days | |
| 3rd time or more | Over .08% | Minimum of 120 days |
Good to know
The maximum penalty for any of the above charges is 10 years.
Watch out!
For every province and territory in Canada, there are different legal rights of authority. This means the police can impose additional laws and penalties, on top of the ones that already apply. The above shows minimums. First time may face prison time, suspension of their drivers license or additional fines.
For example, most provinces and territories have penalties, such as license suspensions at the .05% BAC level, .00% BAC laws for new or young drivers, car impoundment measures and sanction programmes.
To protect drivers against any accidents that they may be responsible for, Canadian law requires that you take out third-party liability car insurance, in order to be able to drive. If you want to compare the best auto insurance in Canada, our comparison tool is available to you below:
Save on car insurance
Impaired driving penalties province-by-province
Below, you can find a table showing how penalties differ between provinces:
Alberta
| How are the penalties different? | After a 1st time offence | After a 2nd time offence | After a 3rd time or more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penalties follow the federal guidelines. However, additional sanctions may apply. |
|
|
|
British Columbia
| How are the penalties different? | After a 1st time offence | After a 2nd time offence | After a 3rd time or more |
|---|---|---|---|
| In addition to the federal penalties and standards, local laws are even more strict. The laws differ depending on if your BAC is over .05 or .08 | If your BAC is over .05:
If your BAC is over .08:
| If your BAC is over .05:
If your BAC is over .08:
| If your BAC is over .05:
If your BAC is over .08:
|
Good to know
A BAC reading up to .049 may result in a 12-hour driving prohibition if you’re in the Graduated Licensing Program, and you’ll start your 24 month N license period over.
Manitoba
New Brunswick
| How are the penalties different? | After a 1st time offence | After a 2nd time offence | After a 3rd time offence |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Motor Vehicle Act in New Brunswick enforces stricter impaired driving laws than the federal standards. | For a BAC level between .05 and .079:
| For a BAC level between .05 and .079:
| For a BAC level between .05 and .079:
|
Good to know
Vehicles may also be impounded for:
-Up to seven days if the BAC is within the warning range
-30 days on the first suspension with a BAC of .08 or higher
-60 days on subsequent infractions
For criminal offences related to drink-driving in New Brunswick, a Breathalyzer is mandatory for any vehicle you then wish to drive. The ignition interlock device is voluntary for short-term license suspensions.
Newfoundland and Labrador
| How are the penalties different? | After a 1st time offence | After a 2nd time offence | After a 3rd time offence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newfoundland and Labrador is one of the strictest provinces for impaired driving. If you are under 22 years old, you may not have a BAC higher than 0 while driving and convictions are possible for BAC levels higher than .049. | For a BAC between .05 and .08:
For a BAC higher than .08:
| For a BAC between .05 and .08:
For a BAC higher than .08:
| For a BAC between .05 and .08:
For a BAC higher than .08:
|
Good to know
Drivers under 22 years old should expect an immediate seven-day vehicle impoundment if alcohol levels under .08 are found. For any driver convicted of impaired driving, it is mandatory to participate in an ignition interlock program
Nova Scotia
| How are the penalties different? | After a 1st time offence | After a 2nd time offence | After a 3rd time offence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nova Scotia’s impaired driving penalties are strict and broken down into four categories. |
|
|
A fourth offence carries a permanent revocation of driving privileges |
Good to know
There are new laws that apply if you are convicted of impaired driving while a child under the age of 16 is onboard:
- Lose your license for two years
- Pay a minimum $1,000 fine
- Lose your license for two years
- Pay a minimum $1,000 fine
- Must participate in an addictions program and an ignition interlock program to get your license back
Ontario
| How are the penalties different? | After a 1st time offence | After a 2nd time offence | After a 3rd time offence |
|---|---|---|---|
| In Ontario, the impaired driving law goes further than the federal laws. |
|
|
|
Good to know
For failing a field sobriety test or testing in the WARN range (.05 to .079) or new drivers violating zero tolerance:
- A three-day license suspension and a $250 penalty are assessed for the first offence.
- A second offence carries a seven-day suspension, $350 penalty, and a mandatory education program.
- Subsequent offences carry a 30-day suspension, $450 penalty, mandatory treatment program, mandatory ignition interlock device for six months, and a mandatory medical evaluation.
- If you have a BAC over .08 or refuse a test, the penalty is a 90-day suspension, seven-day vehicle impoundment, $550 penalty, $281 license reinstatement fee, mandatory treatment program, and mandatory ignition interlock device for at least six months
Quebec
| How are the penalties different? | After a 1st time offence | After a 2nd time offence | After a 3rd time offence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quebec’s impaired driving laws are in line with the Canadian criminal code but go further. |
The minimum financial penalties for a first offence are $1,750. |
|
|
Saskatchewan
| How are the penalties different? | After a 1st time offence | After a 2nd time offence | After a 3rd time offence |
|---|---|---|---|
| If you’ve been convicted of impaired driving in Saskatchewan, you’ll receive an indefinite license suspension until your case goes through the courts. If you have a BAC under .16, your vehicle will be impounded for 30 days. For BAC higher than .16, the impoundment term is 60 days. |
|
|
|
Good to know
An ignition interlock device will be mandatory for between one and ten years.
What is the .00 BAC restriction for young or new drivers?
Unfortunately, drunk driving is a far too common among young people. Did you know that car crashes are the leading cause of death among 16 to 25-year-olds in Canada? Alcohol and/or drugs being a factor in 55% of those crashes? Although that age group accounted for just 13.6% of car crashes among the Canadian population in 2010, they also accounted for almost 33.4% of impairment-related traffic deaths.
Good to know
Zero and low BAC restrictions have been shown to have very positive results.
Nearly all provinces and territories have a .00% BAC restriction for young and new drivers as part of their Graduated Licensing Programs. A major limitation on many of these programs, however, is that the .00% BAC restriction is lifted when the driver completes the Graduated Licensing Program.
However, several provinces have extended the .00% BAC restriction beyond the framework of the Graduated Licensing Program.
Below is a table showing the minimum sentences if you are convicted:
| Offence | Penalty |
|---|---|
| 1st time | A $1,000 fine and a 12-month driving prohibition |
| 2nd time | 30 days of jail and a 24-month driving prohibition |
| 3rd time or more | 120 days of jail and a 36-month driving prohibition |
A province is allowed to set up special ignition interlock device programs specifically to limit criminal driving prohibitions. Not all provinces have such specific programs. However, if they do, you can drive during their prohibition period with an interlock device, beginning as follows:
| Offence | Penalty |
|---|---|
| 1st time | 3 months after the day of sentence |
| 2nd time | 6 months after the day of sentence |
| 3rd time or more | 12 months after the day of sentence |
Otherwise, driving while on a driving prohibition is a criminal offence.
Assumptions about drunk driving:
Here is a list of misconceptions about drunk driving:
- Eating will lower your blood alcohol level.
- Below the alcohol limit, I'm okay. No, it's not true. It depends on your body, but also on your state of fatigue that day and your health condition. A lot of factors come into play!
- After 1 hour it is okay to drive: No. The alcohol in the blood stream does not disappear quickly! Try our tool, it will estimate the time it takes for alcohol to disappear from your body.
- "I can drive if I live close by." It doesn't matter, you can still have an accident while driving even a few metres.
How many glasses of alcohol can I drink?
Test our BAC calculator at the top of the page. It will help you to assess your level of impairment. Insert your details into the tool: your weight and your consumption. After, you will know how long it will take for the alcohol to be eliminated from the body.
| Drunk-driving limit | Is is authorised |
|---|---|
| Below 80 mg or more per 100 ml | |
| Above 80 mg or more per 100 ml |
Canadian law requires that you have car insurance in order to drive. Use our tool to get anonymous insurance quotes in just seconds.
Save on car insurance
