27/05/2026
🚔🇪🇸 Drink Driving Crackdown Across Spain’s Coastal Areas This Summer
Drivers heading to Spain’s popular coastal hotspots this summer are being warned to expect increased police checks and tougher enforcement on drink driving. 🍺🚫
From Marbella and Puerto Banús to Benidorm, Ibiza and the Costa del Sol, authorities are preparing for another busy tourist season with extra roadside controls already being planned. ☀️🚓
While rumours continue to circulate online about new EU alcohol interlock systems and changing drink-driving rules, Spain’s current legal alcohol limits remain unchanged — for now.
📋 Current Drink Driving Limits In Spain
For most drivers: 🍷 0.5 g/l blood alcohol
🍺 0.25 mg/l breath test
For new drivers (under 2 years) and professional drivers: ⚠️ 0.3 g/l blood alcohol
⚠️ 0.15 mg/l breath test
Spain also operates a strict zero-tolerance rule for drivers under 18. 🚫
💸 What Are The Penalties?
Drivers caught over the limit could face:
❌ Fines from €500 to €1,000
📉 Loss of licence points
🚗 Vehicle immobilisation
⚖️ Court appearances
⛓️ Prison sentences in serious cases
Refusing to take a breath test in Spain is also considered a criminal offence.
☀️ Why Summer Is Different
Although the laws themselves do not change specifically for summer or tourist areas, enforcement becomes far stricter during peak season.
Police and Guardia Civil units dramatically increase: 🚔 Roadside checkpoints
🍹 Nightlife patrols
🎉 Festival controls
🏖️ Beach resort testing
🌃 Late-night random stops
Areas expected to see the heaviest controls include: 📍 Costa del Sol
📍 Marbella
📍 Puerto Banús
📍 Málaga
📍 Ibiza
📍 Mallorca
📍 Benidorm
📍 Costa Blanca
⚠️ Could The Laws Change Soon?
Spain’s traffic authority, the DGT, has been pushing for lower alcohol limits which would effectively create a near zero-tolerance system for drivers.
If approved in the future, even one alcoholic drink could potentially put some drivers over the legal limit. 🍷🚫
However, proposed changes have faced political delays and the current limits remain in place for now.
🚗 The Safest Advice?
Authorities continue advising drivers not to drink at all before getting behind the wheel — especially during the busy summer season when roadside checks increase significantly across Spain’s coastal regions.
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