Over half of drunk drivers in Denmark had dangerously high blood alcohol levels, reveals new data

Police Commissioner Søren Blomgren Wind-Hansen, who leads the operational traffic division of Fyns Police in Denmark, conducts regular checks on drivers to ensure they are not under the influence of alcohol. According to new statistics from the Danish National Police, over half of the nearly 28,000 drunk drivers apprehended from 2018 to 2022 had a blood alcohol level of over 1.2 per mille.

“There is a much higher risk of getting into an accident when you have such a high blood alcohol level,” warns Pernille Ehlers, Chief Consultant at the Danish Road Safety Council. Blomgren Wind-Hansen has seen a range of intoxication levels, from minor cases at 0.5 per mille to extreme ones at 2 or 3 per mille.

The blood alcohol level is influenced by factors such as body weight and gender. For instance, a 74 kg man and a 54 kg woman who have each consumed three standard beers within an hour have blood alcohol levels of 0.57 per mille and 1.06 per mille, respectively.

High blood alcohol levels are a significant concern on the roads. In 2023, drunk driving accidents resulted in 35 fatalities and 166 severe injuries, according to the latest data from the Danish Road Safety Council.

Professor Kristine Rømer Thomsen from the Center for Substance Abuse Research warns that a blood alcohol level of 1.2 per mille impairs one’s motor skills, concentration, and reaction time, making it unsafe to drive. “If you’re driving around in such an intoxicated state, it could indicate serious alcohol problems that may need professional help,” she adds.