One Third of Drivers Admit to Driving After Drinking

According to the latest "Carlsberg 0.0 Responsible Driving Index," nearly a third (32%) of drivers admit to getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol, compared to 31% last year. While the overall figure has not changed significantly, the riskiest behavior—driving above the legal limit of 0.5 promille—has slightly increased from 5% to 6%.

The proportion of drivers who say they never drink and drive has dropped from 69% to 68%. Meanwhile, 25% admit to driving up to the legal limit, down from 26% last year.

Gender and Age Differences

Gender differences are pronounced: 42% of men and 19% of women admit to drink-driving (41% and 20% respectively last year). The gap widens for driving above the limit: 10% of men vs. 2% of women.

Among the youngest drivers (18–29), 78% say they have never driven after drinking—unchanged from last year. The most significant shift is among drivers aged 60–74: last year 77% said they never drink and drive, but this year only 65% do. In the same age group, the share admitting to driving above 0.5 promille rose from 2% to 6%. For those aged 50–59, the figure increased from 7% to 11%. However, the 40–49 age group showed improvement: never drinking and driving rose from 61% to 70%, and driving above the limit fell from 8% to 5%.

Regional Differences

In Vidzeme, 62% of respondents never drive after drinking—the lowest regional figure. Zemgale saw an increase from 65% to 78%, while Latgale dropped from 77% to 69%.

CSDD Accident Data

Road Traffic Safety Directorate (CSDD) data confirm that alcohol continues to cause severe consequences. In the first five months of 2026, alcohol-related accidents resulted in one death, 68 injuries (nine serious). For the same period in 2025, there were three deaths and 78 injuries (ten serious). Although fatalities and serious injuries decreased, the total number of such accidents rose from 242 to 265.

Jānis Vanks, head of the Safe Driving School, notes that drink-driving often stems from a false belief in one's ability to assess their condition. Alcohol affects reaction time and attention even when a driver does not feel visibly intoxicated. The safest solution is to plan not to drive in advance.