The limits in brief
| Offence | Limit | Penalty under sjölagen (the Swedish Maritime Code) |
|---|---|---|
| Drunk boating | 0.2 per mille in the blood or 0.10 mg/l in exhaled breath | Fine or up to six months in prison |
| Aggravated drunk boating | In particular at 1.0 per mille or more in the blood or 0.50 mg/l | Up to two years in prison |
Which boats does the 0.2 per mille limit apply to?
The fixed limit applies to boats that can do at least 15 knots under power, or that have a hull of at least 10 metres. That covers many motorboats and larger sailboats, but not, for example, a small, slow boat.
The rule applies both to the skipper and to anyone on board with a task of major importance for safety, such as a lookout or the navigator.
The limit is the same as on land: 0.2 per mille.
Smaller and slower boats
Even on boats below the limits, you can be convicted of drunk boating. This applies to anyone so affected by alcohol or other substances that they can be assumed unable to operate the boat or carry out their duties safely. Kustbevakningen (the Swedish Coast Guard) may stop you and test for sobriety here too if there is reasonable suspicion.
How a sobriety check works
- Kustbevakningen (the Coast Guard) or the Police stop the boat. Checks may be random.
- The operator blows into a screening device. It registers above 0.10 mg of alcohol per litre of exhaled air, roughly 0.2 per mille.
- If the result is positive, a breath sample is given in an evidential breath analyser.
Being checked does not mean you are suspected of a crime.
Why the limit matters
Alcohol impairs night vision, balance, reaction time and concentration, and shortens survival time if you fall in the water. Of the 18 people who died in leisure boating accidents in 2021, six had alcohol in their blood according to forensic analysis. The rules were last tightened in 2010.
Plan the trip home
- Decide who's at the helm before you cast off, and make sure that person can handle the boat.
- Alcohol may still be in your system the next morning – test yourself before setting off.
- Anyone with a safety role on board, such as lookout or navigator, is also covered.
- Wear a life jacket – alcohol shortens survival time in the water.
- Also applies when berthing and making short moves within the harbour.
Frequently asked questions
What is the alcohol limit on the water?
0.2 per mille blood alcohol, or 0.10 mg per litre of exhaled breath, for boats capable of at least 15 knots or with a hull of at least 10 metres.
Does the alcohol limit apply in a small boat?
The fixed limit doesn't apply to boats under 15 knots and 10 metres. But anyone so impaired that they can't operate the boat safely can still be convicted of boating under the influence.
What is aggravated drunk boating?
Among other things, when the blood alcohol concentration is at least 1.0 per mille or 0.50 mg per litre of exhaled air. The penalty is imprisonment for up to two years.
Can passengers be convicted of drunk boating?
Yes, if they have a task of significant importance for safety on board, for example as lookout or navigator.
Sources
- Sjölag (1994:1009), 20 kap. 4–5 §§, Sveriges riksdag riksdagen.se
- Nykter till sjöss, Kustbevakningen kustbevakningen.se
- Var nykter på sjön, Transportstyrelsen transportstyrelsen.se