In India, drunk or intoxicated driving is primarily covered under Section 185 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. A person can be prosecuted when the alcohol level in their blood exceeds the legally prescribed limit of 30 mg per 100 ml of blood.
For a first offence, the penalty can include imprisonment for up to 6 months, a fine of up to ₹10,000, or both. For a second or subsequent offence, the punishment can extend to 2 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to ₹15,000, or both.
Apart from the fine or imprisonment, drunk driving can also lead to licence-related consequences, and if the driver causes an accident resulting in injury or death, additional criminal charges and more serious penalties may apply.
Therefore, drunk driving is not treated merely as a traffic violation; depending on the circumstances, it can have significant legal consequences.
