Legal implications

Research indicates that driving after consuming any level of alcohol impairs your ability to drive safely; you could put your own and other people's lives at serious risk.

It is illegal to drive a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol level over the legal limit. Current legal limits are:

• Drivers under 20 years - 150mcg per litre of breath or 30mg per 100mls blood.
• Drivers over 20 years - 400mcg per litre of breath or 80mg per 100mls blood.

Drink-driving is considered a serious offence and carries tough penalties, especially for repeat offenders. Third and subsequent offenders face maximum fines of $6,000, prison terms of up to two years, and a one year minimum disqualification from driving.

If you cause injury or death while drink-driving, you can be fined up to $10,000 for driving carelessly while under the influence (no breath or blood test needed); up to $20,000 where a breath or blood-alcohol test shows you were over the limit and you could be sentenced to prison.

New Zealand does not have a minimum legal drinking age. However, what we do have is a minimum legal age for purchasing alcohol.

• It is illegal for anyone under 18 years old to purchase alcohol, and
• It is illegal for anyone other than a parent or guardian to supply alcohol to those under 18.

The current maximum penalty for selling liquor to a minor is $10,000.