Drink Driving Penalty Malaysia 2026 | Alcohol Limit, Revocation

Malaysia's drink driving limit: Blood alcohol concentration exceeding 0.05% (50mg/100ml) is considered drink driving.

A breath test exceeding 0.22mg/L is also considered drink driving. This is roughly equivalent to the level after drinking 1-2 cans of beer.

First-time drink driving penalties:

• Fine RM2,000 - 6,000

• Imprisonment up to 6 months

• License revocation for 1 - 2 years

• Criminal record

Second-time drink driving penalties are harsher:

• Fine RM5,000 - 10,000

• Imprisonment 6 months - 2 years

• License revocation for 3 - 5 years

Yes. Drink driving is a criminal offense, and a conviction will leave a criminal record.

This record can affect: government job applications, overseas visas, background checks, and professional license applications.

P license holders caught drink driving will have their license revoked immediately, and P license holders already incur double demerit points.

After revocation, you must restart from KPP01, which is extremely costly. So never drink and drive during your P license period.

You can only reapply after the revocation period ends. First-time revocation is 1-2 years, and second-time is 3-5 years.

Reapplying requires starting from scratch: KPP01 → UKPP → KPP02/KPP03 → JPJ road test.

If the breath test exceeds the limit, it counts as drink driving, whether you drank alcohol or consumed alcohol-containing food.

It is advisable to avoid any alcohol-containing food and medication (such as certain cough syrups containing alcohol) before driving.

Under Section 45A of Malaysia's Road Transport Act 1987, the drink driving limit is more than 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, or more than 50mg per 100ml of breath. Exceeding this limit is an offence and can be charged as drink driving.

For a first drink driving offence, the fine ranges from not less than RM10,000 to not more than RM30,000. Under the Road Transport (Amendment) Act 2020, the fine is increased to not less than RM10,000 and not more than RM30,000, and may also result in imprisonment.

Yes. Under Section 45A of the Road Transport Act 1987, a first drink driving offence can result in imprisonment of up to 2 years. If it causes an accident, injury, or death, the sentence is longer. The court has the discretion to impose actual jail time based on the alcohol concentration and severity of the case.

Drink driving causing death is a serious offence. It can be charged under Section 44 of the Road Transport Act 1987 as dangerous driving causing death, with a maximum penalty of imprisonment of not less than 10 years (up to 15 years after amendment), a fine of not less than RM50,000, and licence disqualification of not less than 10 years.

Yes. As long as the alcohol level in your body exceeds the legal limit, it counts as drink driving regardless of when you consumed the alcohol. After drinking the night before, if the alcohol is not fully metabolised by the next morning, a breath test may still exceed the limit. Therefore, it is recommended to wait at least 12-24 hours after drinking before driving.

It is not recommended. One glass of beer may bring some people's alcohol level close to or above the legal limit, especially for those with lighter body weight. Malaysia has a zero-tolerance approach to drink driving, and even one glass of beer could cause you to exceed the limit. The safest option is to not drive at all after drinking.

Yes. Under Section 45C of the Road Transport Act 1987, driving under the influence of drugs is an offence, punishable by imprisonment of up to 10 years, a fine of not less than RM20,000 and not more than RM50,000, and licence disqualification of not less than 5 years.

Refusing or failing to cooperate with a breathalyzer test is an offense, punishable by a fine of up to RM10,000 or imprisonment for up to 6 months, or both. Police have the authority to require drivers to undergo a breath test, and refusal will be considered obstruction of law enforcement, leading to legal consequences.

Yes. Under the Road Transport Act 1987, police have the authority to set up roadblocks and require drivers to undergo breathalyzer tests. If a driver refuses, police may arrest them and bring them to a police station for a blood test. This is part of police enforcement powers.

Typically, after a drunk driving arrest, police will complete their investigation within 24 hours and submit the case to court within 1-2 weeks. The exact time depends on the complexity of the case and court scheduling. During this period, you may be detained or released on bail while awaiting the court summons.

Yes. Drunk driving is a bailable offense, and you can be released on bail with approval from police or the court. The bail amount is determined by police or the court, typically ranging from RM2,000 to RM10,000, depending on the severity of the case. You must appear in court as scheduled after bail.

Yes. A drunk driving conviction record may affect your Malaysian visa application or renewal. The immigration department will review criminal records, and drunk driving is a criminal offense that could lead to visa denial or cancellation. Foreigners must declare it truthfully when applying, or they may be denied entry.

Yes. A drunk driving conviction is a criminal record, and the Malaysian Immigration Department will consider the applicant's background when reviewing permanent residency applications. A drunk driving record may be viewed as poor character, leading to rejection of the PR application. It is advisable to consult an immigration lawyer before applying.

Possibly. After a drunk driving conviction, in addition to fines and imprisonment, the Immigration Department has the authority to blacklist or deport foreigners under the Immigration Act 1959/63. Serious drunk driving (e.g., causing death) is more likely to result in deportation, and future re-entry into Malaysia may be difficult.

Under Malaysia's Road Transport Act 1987, after a drunk driving conviction, your driving license (CDL) will be suspended for at least 2 years (first offense) to 5 years (repeat offense). After the suspension period ends, you must retake the driving test (including theory and road tests) and pass before obtaining a new license. The exact retake time depends on the court judgment and JPJ records; it is recommended to check your status with JPJ in advance.

Drunk driving is a serious offence. Insurance companies typically list drunk driving as an exclusion in the policy. If an accident is caused by drunk driving, the insurer has the right to refuse compensation for third-party losses and your own vehicle repair costs. Victims may need to seek recourse through legal channels. It is advisable to read the policy terms carefully when purchasing insurance and avoid drunk driving to protect your rights.

Drunk driving is a serious offence. Insurance companies typically list drunk driving as an exclusion in the policy. If an accident is caused by drunk driving, the insurer has the right to refuse compensation for third-party losses and your own vehicle repair costs. Victims may need to seek recourse through legal channels. It is advisable to read the policy terms carefully when purchasing insurance and avoid drunk driving to protect your rights.

Under Section 45A of the Road Transport Act 1987, for drunk driving (blood alcohol content exceeding 80mg/100ml), a first offence can result in a fine of not less than RM10,000 and not more than RM30,000, plus imprisonment for up to 2 years. For a repeat offence, the fine is not less than RM20,000 and not more than RM50,000, imprisonment for up to 5 years, and licence revocation for at least 5 years. If it causes injury or death, the penalties are more severe.

False. The Malaysian police can set up roadblocks for random breathalyser tests. Even if no accident occurs, if your blood alcohol content exceeds the limit, it constitutes a drunk driving offence, which can lead to fines, imprisonment, and licence revocation. Drunk driving is an act-based offence and does not depend on whether you hit someone. If caught, you will face legal consequences.

False. The rate at which alcohol is metabolised varies from person to person. After an overnight period, your blood alcohol content may still exceed the limit. The police rely on breathalyser or blood test results, not the time of drinking. If you drank heavily the night before, you could still be found guilty of drunk driving the next morning. It is advisable to wait at least 12-24 hours after drinking before driving.

False. The legal limit for drunk driving in Malaysia is a blood alcohol content of not more than 80mg/100ml. However, whether one beer exceeds the limit depends on factors such as body weight, drinking speed, and time. Even if you are under the limit, you could still be charged if it is determined that your driving ability is impaired. The safest option is to not drink at all before driving.

False. The Malaysian police (JPJ and traffic police) conduct roadblocks for drunk driving checks throughout the year, especially during holidays, weekends, and late-night hours. Since 2020, enforcement has been intensified with the use of portable breathalyser devices. The arrest rate for drunk driving is increasing yearly, so do not take the risk.

Under the Road Transport Act 1987, if the vehicle owner knowingly lends the car to a drunk driver, they can be considered an accomplice and face the same penalties (fines, imprisonment, and license revocation). If the accident causes injury or death, the owner may also be liable for civil compensation. It is advisable to confirm the person has not consumed alcohol before lending the car and to keep evidence.

According to the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS), approximately 20%-30% of fatal traffic accidents are related to drunk driving. Drunk driving is a major cause of accidents at night and on weekends, with the proportion rising during festive seasons. The government continues to strengthen enforcement to reduce this percentage.

马来西亚酒驾不扣分，而是直接吊销驾照。初犯吊销驾照至少2年，罚款1万至3万令吉，或监禁不超过10年。重犯或致伤他人，刑罚更重。请勿酒驾，安全第一。