What blood alcohol content (BAC) is a new driver under 18 prohibited from having while driving?

A new driver under the age of 18 is prohibited from having a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .02 or greater while driving. This low threshold is in place to ensure the safety of young drivers and those around them, acknowledging that even small amounts of alcohol can impair judgment and reaction times.

The reasoning behind this strict limit is that young and inexperienced drivers may not be able to handle the effects of alcohol as well as more experienced drivers, making any level of alcohol consumption especially risky. Many jurisdictions adopt a zero-tolerance policy for underage drinking and driving, reinforcing the idea that the presence of alcohol in the system can compromise driving abilities.

Higher BAC limits, such as .05 or .08, apply to drivers of legal drinking age and indicate that they are considered impaired at those levels. However, for new drivers under the age of 18, the .02 limit serves to deter any alcohol consumption before driving, promoting safer road conditions.