From 1 July 2025 Denmark will apply a strict 0.2 BAC limit to everyone who has held a licence for less than three years, regardless of their age or the date they passed the test. The Road Safety Council’s new campaign spells this out in plain language: because novice drivers have less routine, even small amounts of alcohol raise their crash risk. Practically, 0.2 BAC means no drinking at all if you plan to drive.

The penalties mirror those for ordinary drink-driving at 0.5 BAC or above. If a new driver is caught over 0.2 BAC they face an immediate driving ban, a fine, a mandatory 12-hour “Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic” course that costs 3 200 DKK, and they must retake both the theory and practical driving tests. After that they enter a three-year probation period with tougher consequences for any serious traffic offence. Being caught at 1.2 BAC or higher triggers an even harsher response, including losing the licence for three years.

By launching the campaign now, the Road Safety Council wants to give learners, parents and driving schools time to adjust. Their website and newsletter answer common questions, such as why the limit is 0.2 rather than zero, which vehicles are covered and how the rule applies to licences that have been re-issued. The message is simple: if you are still within your first three years behind the wheel, keep the keys and the glass separate.

Find more from Rådet for Sikker Trafik (Denmark, July 2025)