One Third of Latvian Drivers Admit to Driving After Drinking Alcohol

According to the “Carlsberg 0.0 Responsible Driving Index,” nearly one in three (32%) drivers admit to having driven after drinking alcohol. This figure has remained largely unchanged from last year, when 31% reported the same.

However, the proportion of drivers who admit to driving with a blood alcohol content exceeding the legal 0.5 promille limit has increased from 5% to 6%. Gender differences are significant: 42% of men and 19% of women have driven after drinking. Above the legal limit, the gap is even wider: 10% of men versus 2% of women.

Young drivers (ages 18–29) are more cautious, with 78% saying they have never driven after drinking. In contrast, the 60–74 age group has seen a decline: only 65% this year claim they have not driven under the influence, down from 77% last year. In this age group, the share exceeding 0.5 promille rose from 2% to 6%.

Similarly, in the 50–59 age bracket, the proportion exceeding the limit increased from 7% to 11%. However, a positive trend is seen among 40–49-year-olds: the share who never drive after drinking rose from 61% to 70%, while driving above 0.5 promille dropped from 8% to 5%.

Regionally, the highest rate of drinking and driving is in Vidzeme, where 38% admitted to the practice. In Zemgale, the figure improved from 35% to 22%, but in Latgale it worsened from 23% to 31%.

CSDD data shows that alcohol remains a serious problem on the roads. In the first five months of 2026, alcohol-related crashes killed one person and injured 68, nine of them seriously. Compared to the same period in 2025 (three deaths, 78 injured, ten seriously), the severity indicators are lower, but the total number of such accidents increased from 242 to 265.

The survey was conducted by Norstat in April 2025, involving 1,000 Latvian residents aged 18 to 74.