Drink and drive isn't just a traffic violation — it's one of the leading causes of fatal road accidents in Bangalore, and the law treats it that way. Here's what you're actually risking, backed by the current legal provisions.
The legal limit
Under Section 185 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (amended in 2019), the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit in India is 30 mg per 100 ml of blood (0.03%). Cross this, and you're legally considered to be driving under the influence — intent doesn't matter, the reading does.
Fines and imprisonment
First offence: Fine up to ₹10,000, and/or imprisonment up to 6 months.
Repeat offence (within 3 years): Fine up to ₹15,000, and/or imprisonment up to 2 years.
These are steep jumps from the pre-2019 fines of ₹2,000 and ₹3,000 — a deliberate move to make the penalty actually hurt. Police can also detain the vehicle and, in serious cases, suspend the driving licence.
It's not just alcohol — drugs count too
Section 185 explicitly covers driving under the influence of drugs, not just alcohol. If a driver is impaired to the point of being unable to control the vehicle safely, the same penalty structure applies — a first offence draws up to 6 months imprisonment and/or a ₹10,000 fine, and repeat offences go up to 2 years and/or ₹15,000. The law defines "drug" broadly, covering narcotic and psychotropic substances, so this isn't limited to any one category.
When it gets more serious
If a drink-or-drug-impaired driver causes an accident, additional charges can follow — rash driving under Section 281 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (up to 6 months), and in cases involving death, far more serious charges like culpable homicide, which can mean years of imprisonment. Refusing a breath test carries the same penalty as failing one — it isn't a way out.
Why this matters beyond the fine
A drink-and-drive charge isn't just money and paperwork — it puts other people's lives at risk, and it stays on record. Since 2024, several cities have started logging these offences on national crime tracking systems, making them harder to simply pay off and forget.
If your licence gets suspended or you need related paperwork sorted
A suspended licence, a fresh DL after reinstatement, or updating your records post-penalty all still need to go through your RTO correctly. This is where Upride helps — we handle DL-related paperwork across all Bangalore RTOs, so at least that part isn't another headache.
📲 Message us on WhatsApp if you need help with any RTO paperwork.
The safest choice, always, is simple: don't drink or use drugs and drive. No fine or licence issue is worth the risk to your life or someone else's.