The Republican National Guard (GNR) detected, between January 1 and July 31, 8,438 arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol throughout Portuguese territory, out of a total of 8,856 crimes recorded during this period. The difference between the number of crimes and arrests is explained by cases where blood samples were required in a hospital setting, whose results are known later.
The districts of Porto, Setúbal, Aveiro and Faro stand out as those with the highest volume of crimes and arrests. The GNR reports that an average of 1,265 crimes of drunk driving are recorded per month, with the age group between 31 and 64 years being where the highest number of cases is concentrated, with emphasis on drivers between 51 and 64 years old (2,450 arrests), followed by 41-50 years old (2,167) and 31-40 years old (1,850).
The risk worsens on weekends, with a critical peak during the early morning hours between 00:00 and 06:00, frequently associated with travel in leisure and nightlife contexts. The GNR warns that alcohol consumption dramatically reduces reaction time, limits the visual field and decreases decision-making ability, turning the vehicle into a real threat to the driver, passengers and other road users.
In Portugal, driving with a Blood Alcohol Level equal to or greater than 1.20 g/l constitutes a road crime punishable by a prison sentence of up to one year or a fine of up to 120 days, with driving disqualification.
