Under-21 Drinking and Driving: BAC Limits in All 50 States
Reviewed by Chad HenryAfter 25 years of teaching driver education
Zero tolerance, but not the same zero everywhere
Every state has a zero-tolerance law for drivers under 21: because it is illegal for them to buy alcohol, the legal blood-alcohol limit for driving is far below the 0.08 that applies to adults. Most states set it at 0.02, a level that allows for mouthwash or medicine but not a drink. Others go further, to 0.01 or to any measurable alcohol at all.
This question appears on almost every state's permit test, and it is one of the easiest to get wrong if you studied a generic list. Here is the limit for each state, with the source we checked it against.
What happens at or above the limit
Penalties differ by state, but a zero-tolerance violation typically brings:
- License suspension - often automatic, even for a first offence, and separate from any criminal case.
- Fines and fees, plus a license reinstatement fee.
- Mandatory alcohol education in many states.
- A longer GDL timeline - some states restart or extend your permit or probationary period.
At 0.08 or above, an under-21 driver faces the full adult DUI charge on top of the zero-tolerance penalty.
Other alcohol rules the permit test covers
- Implied consent: by driving, you agree to a chemical test if an officer requests one; refusing brings its own suspension.
- Open containers: most states prohibit open alcohol containers in the passenger area.
- Only time sobers you up. Coffee, cold showers and food don't lower your BAC.
Test yourself on your state's alcohol questions with a free state practice test, and read more in our distracted and impaired driving guide.