11.1 Consequences of driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs or medicines

In Sweden, driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, i.e. with a blood alcohol content of minimum 0.02 per cent or more, or a breath alcohol content of 0.10 milligrams per litre or more, is regarded as crime, regardless of whether the driver is involved in an accident or not. 

The crime is considered to be gross if (1) the driver has a blood alcohol content of at least 1.0 milligrams per litre or a breath alcohol content of at least 0.50 milligrams per litre, (2) the driver has otherwise been considerably affected by alcohol or another substance, (3) the manner in which the vehicle was driven was a considerable danger to road safety.

These alcohol limits also apply at sea, when operating a motor boat capable of speeds over 15 knots or any other vessel with an overall hull length of at least 10 meters. Breaches of the prescribed alcohol limits constitute the criminal act of drunkenness at sea.

Provisions on driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs are set out in Sections 4 and 4(a) of the Act on Penalties for Certain Road Traffic OffencesSwedish Road Traffic Offences (1951:649) and apply to the operation of motor vehicles. Provisions on drunkenness at sea are found in Chapter 20, Sections 4 and 5 of the Swedish Maritime Code (1994:1009).

The Act on Penalties for Certain Road Traffic Offences (1951:649) (in Swedish)

The Swedish Maritime Code (1994:1009) (in Swedish)