The Guarda Nacional Republicana detained over 8,400 drivers for driving under the influence of alcohol between January and July 2026, having recorded 8,438 detentions and 8,856 related crimes. This represents an average of 1,265 crimes per month and about 280 detentions per week. The GNR estimates that these detentions have removed over 101,000 hours of driving under the influence of alcohol from Portuguese roads, considering that each driver is prevented from driving for a minimum period of 12 hours.
The data analysis reveals that the majority of detentions are concentrated between the ages of 31 and 64, with the 51 to 64 age group leading with 2,450 detentions, followed by the 41 to 50 age group (2,167) and the 31 to 40 age group (1,850). The values are significantly lower among younger drivers and the senior population.
The incidents show a strong concentration during weekends, with particular incidence between midnight and 06:00, a period frequently associated with leisure and nighttime entertainment contexts. Geographically, the districts of Porto, Setúbal, Aveiro, and Faro stand out for the highest number of crimes and detentions, territories that follow the areas of greatest road traffic intensity.
In Portugal, driving with a blood alcohol level equal to or greater than 1.20 g/l constitutes a road traffic crime, punishable by a prison sentence of up to one year or a fine of up to 120 days. Given these numbers, the GNR appeals to individual and collective responsibility, recommending the use of public transport, taxis, or shared transport, as well as the advance designation of a designated driver who does not consume alcohol.
