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Singapore's New Drink-Driving Limit, Explained

Singapore is cutting its drink-driving limit by more than half. Parliament passed the change on 4 August 2026, and the new limit starts on a date the Government will announce. By the Ministry of Home Affairs' rough guide, the new limit is about one and a half standard drinks for a man, and no more than one for a woman.

The short version: if you're driving tonight, don't drink. If you've already had a drink, leave the driving to someone else.

This is general information, not legal advice. For your own situation, check the official announcements linked at the end of this page, or speak to a lawyer.

What's changing

TestLimit todayNew limit
Breath35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 ml15 micrograms of alcohol per 100 ml
Blood80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 ml30 milligrams of alcohol per 100 ml

Today's limits have applied since 1985. The Ministry of Home Affairs says the new ones bring Singapore in line with places such as Japan, Taiwan and South Korea.

When does it start?

The change is part of the Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2026. Parliament passed it on 4 August 2026, and it was published on 8 September 2026. The lower limits start on a date the Government will announce. Until then, today's limits still apply.

We'll update this page when the start date is announced.

How many drinks is that?

There is no safe number. Alcohol affects people differently depending on gender, age, health and body size. The Ministry's advice is simple: if you plan to drive, don't drink at all.

As a rough guide only, the Ministry says the new limit works out to about 1.5 standard drinks for men and not more than 1 for women, drunk three hours before driving. One standard drink is:

  • a 330 ml can of beer (5% alcohol)
  • a 125 ml glass of wine (12% alcohol)
  • a 40 ml shot of spirits (40% alcohol)

A pint of beer or a large glass of wine is more than one standard drink. So two beers over dinner can already be too many.

Readings at the roadside

The new law also lets the Traffic Police use a handheld breath analyser that gives an official reading on the spot. Today, the official breath test is done later at a police station, and the reading can drop in the time it takes to get there. With the handheld device, that gap closes.

The penalties

For a first offence, the Police list a fine of $2,000 to $10,000, up to 12 months in jail, or both. For a second or later offence, it's a fine of $5,000 to $20,000 and a mandatory jail term of up to two years. Offenders can also be banned from driving.

The Ministry is also looking at sentencing guidelines that would recommend jail for first-time offenders caught with very high alcohol levels.

How to get home after drinking

The Police suggest a taxi or private-hire car, public transport, a valet, or a friend who hasn't been drinking. Each has a catch:

  • Taxi, Grab or the MRT: easy, but your car stays behind. You pay to park overnight and go back for it the next day.
  • A sober friend: works if they really haven't had anything. Under the new limit, even one drink matters.
  • A drive-home valet: a licensed driver comes to you and drives you home in your own car. You and the car get home together, and nobody drove after drinking.

We compared the costs in valet vs Grab vs overnight parking, and covered the legal side in is drive-home valet legal in Singapore?

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Sources

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