Buenos Aires maintains 0.5 BAC limit, detailing fines and sanctions for drunk driving

Despite the national trend towards stricter "Zero Alcohol" driving laws, the City of Buenos Aires continues to permit a blood alcohol content of up to 0.5 grams per liter for private vehicle drivers. This contrasts with other regions, including the province of Buenos Aires, which implemented their own "Zero Alcohol" initiatives prior to the national law's passage in 2023.

The Ministry of Infrastructure for the City of Buenos Aires maintains that a consistent policy of alcohol control checks is in place, citing that one in five fatal traffic accidents in the jurisdiction is linked to alcohol consumption. This underscores the ongoing concern regarding impaired driving, even within the existing legal limits.

Consequences for drivers who exceed the legal limit in the City of Buenos Aires are severe. Anyone testing positive for alcohol is immediately disqualified from driving for a minimum of two months, faces vehicle impoundment, and has their license suspended. The severity of sanctions escalates with the detected alcohol level.

For drivers found with between 0.5 and 1 gram of alcohol per liter of blood, fines range from 150 to 1,000 Fixed Units (UF), translating to approximately $142,498 to $949,990 based on June 2026 UF values. License suspension can extend from two to four months, though this period may be halved for first-time offenders who complete a traffic safety course. In more serious cases, with alcohol levels exceeding 1 gram per liter, fines jump to between 300 and 2,000 UF ($284,997 to $1,899,980), with license suspensions ranging from four months to two years, which cannot be suspended. Jail time is also a possibility in these severe instances.