If you break road traffic or inland navigation law you face the following proceedings, which are generally separate from one another.
Criminal proceedings (fines, financial penalties, imprisonment)
Administrative proceedings (warning, revocation of licence etc.)
Professional drivers, new drivers, learner drivers, driving instructors and persons accompanying learner drivers may not be under the influence of alcohol (≥ 0.05 mg/l or ≥0.01%).
The law recognises three degrees of seriousness for drink driving offences:
0.25 to 0.39 mg/l or 0.05 to 0.079%: If you drive with a breath alcohol content of 0.25 to 0.39 mg/l or a blood alcohol level of 0.05 to 0.079%, you will receive a warning and a fine.
0.25 to 0.39 mg/l or 0.05 to 0.079% plus further driving offence: If you drive a vehicle, motor boat or recreational craft with a breath alcohol content of 0.25 to 0.39 mg/l or a blood alcohol content of 0.05 to 0.079% and commit a further driving offence you will be banned from driving for at least one month and receive a fine or a financial penalty or up to three years in prison. The amount you will be ordered to pay depends on your financial situation.
0.40 mg/l or 0.08%: If you drive a vehicle, motor boat or recreational craft with a breath alcohol content of 0.40 mg/l or a blood alcohol content of 0.08% or over you will be banned from driving for at least three months. You will also receive a financial penalty or up to three years in prison. The amount of money you will be ordered to pay depends on your financial situation. The offence will be entered into the register of criminal convictions and will appear for a certain period on extracts from the register.
Driving offences with a probationary driving licence: The first time you are disqualified from driving and you have a probationary driving licence, a year is added to the probation period. If you commit another driving offence that leads to disqualification, you will lose your licence entirely. You are only allowed to apply for a new provisional licence after one year and you will need to have a psychological assessment to see whether you are fit to drive.
You are also responsible for the investigation and administrative costs incurred.