On Friday, a 23-year-old Spanish man was involved in a spectacular accident in Calle Aragón, Palma, which involved another vehicle and caused significant material damage; fortunately, however, there were no personal injuries. The driver was driving under the influence of alcohol and without a driving licence. In addition, several witnesses confirm that after the accident, he entered the premises where the accident had occurred and ordered a beer.
‘We were all in the bar and suddenly we saw him coming straight towards us. It was a shock and we were lucky that the high kerb slowed the car down, otherwise it would have crashed into the building,’ said the owner of the Taberna Can Bruno.
The customers at the bar located at 147 Calle Aragón could not believe what had happened. Even less so when the young man involved in the accident stumbled into the premises, showing clear signs of being under the influence of alcohol, and clearly said, ‘Give me a beer,’ as explained by the witnesses present.
The other driver involved, a 30-year-old man, was thrown several metres after the impact and ended up blocking the busy road. The security forces were immediately notified and a night unit from the Palma Local Police attended the scene.
The officers carried out the corresponding breathalyser test and the young man tested positive. In addition, it was found that his driving licence was not valid. According to witnesses, the other driver involved also appeared to be under the influence of alcohol, but his blood alcohol level did not exceed the legal limit, so no penalties or investigation were warranted.
The incident took place at around 11:50 p.m. on Friday night, at a time when the bar was very busy. The drunk driver was about to be arrested when, due to his state of intoxication, he took an alcoholic drink from one of the tables and began to drink it in front of the police while they were writing up the report. The accident report will reveal the repercussions for the driver involved in the accident.
There are new drink driving limits proposed for late 2025. The Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) has proposed new rules that are likely to come into effect in late 2025. These changes will apply to all drivers, including those on e-scooters and bicycles.
Proposed universal limit: 0.2 g/l in blood or 0.1 mg/l in breath.
Implication: This will make it extremely difficult to consume any alcohol and stay under the legal limit. Experts warn that even a small glass of wine or beer could put a driver over the new threshold.
Enforcement and penalties
Spanish law takes drinking and driving very seriously, with fines, license suspensions, and potential prison time. Refusing to take a breathalyzer test is also a criminal offense.
Administrative offenses
Penalties for exceeding the legal alcohol limit but remaining below the criminal threshold include:
Fines: Ranges from €500 to €1,000 depending on the alcohol level. Repeat offenders face higher fines.
License points: Drivers will have points deducted from their license (Spain uses a 12-point system).
Criminal offenses
When a driver’s alcohol level reaches a certain point, the offense becomes a criminal matter under the Spanish Criminal Code.
Alcohol level: More than 0.60 mg/l in exhaled air or 1.2 g/l in blood.
Penalties: Can include imprisonment for 3 to 6 months, a fine based on income, community service, and a driving ban of one to four years.
Refusing a breathalyzer test
Refusing to cooperate with police and take a test is a separate criminal offense with serious consequences.
Penalties: Imprisonment from 6 months to one year and a driving ban for one to four years.
Important advice
Because individual tolerance to alcohol varies, the safest and most recommended approach is a zero-tolerance policy. It is best to not drink any alcohol at all if you plan on driving.