Challenge
'It's only one glass' sounds harmless, and that is exactly why the CBR exam designer asks about it. The book gives no vague feeling but two hard numbers: ~12 ml of pure alcohol per standard glass, and a promillage that drops by 0.1 to 0.2 per hour — no faster, whatever you try.
Read this section on its own page: Challenge: Alcohol behind the wheel: the limit and the glass
The model
One standard glass ≈ 12 ml of pure alcohol ≈ 0.2 to 0.3 promille (Book p.15) — whether it is beer (250 ml/5%), wine (100 ml/12%) or whisky (35 ml/35%). The body breaks that down at 0.1 to 0.2 promille per hour: one glass therefore already takes about 1.5 hours.
Read this section on its own page: The model: Alcohol behind the wheel: the limit and the glass
Core
The legal limit depends on your driving experience: an experienced driver stays under 220 micrograms per litre of breath or 0.5 promille of blood. A novice driver — the first 5 years after your first driving licence, or 7 years if you obtained an AM or T licence before turning 18 — is capped at the lower limit of 88 micrograms per litre or 0.2 promille. The book adds a consumption calculation that the law itself does not give: one standard glass, regardless of the type of drink, delivers roughly 12 ml of pure alcohol and therefore on average 0.2 to 0.3 promille. For a novice driver that one glass can already reach or exceed their own 0.2 promille limit. Breakdown happens at a fixed rate: 0.1 to 0.2 promille per hour. There is no shortcut — no coffee, no cold shower, no fresh air. Breaking down one glass therefore already takes about an hour and a half, and the limit does not apply only to car drivers: the law speaks of the driver of a vehicle, so cyclists too.
Read this section on its own page: Core: Alcohol behind the wheel: the limit and the glass
Why it matters
The danger of alcohol lies exactly in the feeling of control it removes while you think you still have it. A novice driver who drives based on an 'experienced' rule of thumb structurally underestimates their own limit. And anyone who relies on clock tricks instead of simply waiting drives with a higher promillage than expected — exactly the scenario roadside police check for.
Read this section on its own page: Why it matters: Alcohol behind the wheel: the limit and the glass
Active recall
You are 19 years old and obtained your B driving licence three years ago. At the birthday party in Zwolle you drank one glass of wine (~0.25 promille) at eight o'clock. At half past nine, over an hour and a half later, you drink a strong cup of coffee and drive off. What applies to you?
Read this section on its own page: Active recall: Alcohol behind the wheel: the limit and the glass
Source: WVW 1994 art. 8 · WVW 1994 art. 163 · checked 2026-10-22
Frequently asked questions
‘Drinking one standard glass of alcohol makes no difference to your fitness to drive — it will not show up in the test’ – is that true?
No. One standard glass contains about 12 ml of pure alcohol and produces on average 0.2 to 0.3 promille. For a novice driver (limit 0.2 promille) that one glass can already exceed the legal limit
‘A strong cup of coffee or a few glasses of water sober you up faster than simply waiting’ – is that true?
No. The body breaks down alcohol at a fixed rate of 0.1 to 0.2 promille per hour, regardless of coffee or water. Breaking down 1 glass therefore already takes about 1.5 hours; only time lowers the promillage
‘The legal alcohol limits apply only to car drivers, not to cyclists’ – is that true?
No. The limit applies to the driver of a VEHICLE, and a bicycle is a vehicle. Only the lowered novice limit (0.2 promille) is restricted to licence-requiring motor vehicles
‘A novice driver may drive up to 0.5 promille, just like an experienced driver’ – is that true?
No. A novice driver is capped at 88 micrograms/litre or 0.2 promille, not 0.5
‘For an experienced driver the breath limit is 88 micrograms per litre’ – is that true?
No. 220 micrograms per litre is the limit for the experienced driver; 88 micrograms per litre applies to the novice driver. The two figures are swapped