Zero Alcohol for L and P Platers in Australia

Photo: Alpha, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Learners and P platers in every Australian state and territory must have a zero blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Any alcohol at all is an offence. Police can stop and breath test or saliva test any driver at any time. This explainer covers what zero means in practice, the drugs police test for, what happens if you return a reading, and the rules for supervisors.

Key facts

Zero BAC for all L and P drivers in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, WA, SA, Tasmania, the ACT and the NT.
Full licence holders, including most supervising drivers, must be under 0.05.
Police run random breath tests and roadside saliva drug tests. You must not refuse either.
Drug driving is about presence, not impairment. Police screen for cannabis (THC), methylamphetamine and ecstasy (MDMA), and in some states cocaine. Any amount is an offence.
Only time clears alcohol, and how fast varies from person to person. Coffee does not speed it up, so the morning after is a real risk.

What does zero BAC mean?

BAC is the amount of alcohol in your blood. A BAC of 0.05 means 0.05 grams of alcohol in every 100 millilitres of blood. Zero means none at all.

Food and medicine: the ACT and NT handbooks say learner and provisional drivers must not drive after consuming alcoholic drinks or food containing alcohol.
Before moving off: in the NT, the zero limit applies when you try to start the engine or set the vehicle in motion, as well as when you drive.

Alcohol limits by state

State	Learner and P limit	What else applies
NSW	Zero (L, P1 and P2)	Police can test any driver or supervisor for ecstasy, cannabis, cocaine and methamphetamine
VIC	Zero (L, P1 and P2)	Supervising drivers must be under 0.05; drinking while supervising is illegal
QLD	Zero (learner, provisional and probationary)	First offence over 0.00 but under 0.05: 3 to 9 months’ disqualification
WA	Zero (all novice drivers)	Supervisors face the same alcohol and drug limits as if they were driving
SA	Zero alcohol, and no THC, methylamphetamine, MDMA or cocaine	Any amount of drugs is an offence regardless of licence type
TAS	Zero (learner and provisional)	Police can arrest without warrant and impound your vehicle
ACT	Zero (learner and provisional)	Must follow the BAC rules of whichever state you drive in
NT	Zero (learner and provisional)	A zero (Z) condition continues for 12 months after Ps, or until 25, whichever is sooner

Random breath testing (RBT)

Police can stop you at any time and ask you to blow into a breath-testing device. They can also breath test any driver involved in a crash.
Refusing a breath or drug test is an offence. The NSW, Victorian, WA and ACT handbooks all say so.
In Victoria, a positive roadside reading leads to a second test on another instrument, and that reading is used as evidence.
In NSW, if you are admitted to hospital after a crash, doctors can take blood and urine samples for police.
Western Australia’s Drive Safe says every police vehicle can carry out both breath and drug tests, and the chance of being tested is high.

Roadside drug testing

The test is a saliva swab. You wipe a stick down your tongue.
What police test for:
- NSW: ecstasy, cannabis, cocaine and methamphetamine, including speed and ice.
- South Australia: THC, methylamphetamine, MDMA and cocaine. A positive saliva result leads to a follow-up saliva or blood test.
- ACT: any trace of cannabis, methamphetamine or ecstasy is an offence.
Drugs stay in your system: the NSW handbook warns that drugs can remain long after you take them. If you think you might have drugs in your system, do not drive.
WA: a positive roadside test, or a refusal, brings a prohibition notice that bans you from driving for 24 hours.
Victoria: anyone convicted of drug driving gets a licence ban and must complete a Behaviour Change Program before relicensing.

Medicines

You must not drive while affected by any drug, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines. Victoria’s handbook lists medicines that can affect driving:

sleeping tablets
muscle relaxants
sedatives
some antihistamines (such as in hay fever or cold and flu medicines)
some strong painkillers

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before driving on a new medicine. In NSW, police can arrange blood and urine tests if a driver shows signs of being affected, including by prescription drugs.

What happens if a learner or P plater blows over zero?

Penalties depend on the state and the reading. Two examples from official sources:

Victoria: a learner or probationary driver with a BAC above zero but under 0.05 faces 3 months’ cancellation for a first offence. Between 0.05 and under 0.1, it is 6 months. Anyone whose licence is cancelled for drink driving must complete the Behaviour Change Program, and must use an alcohol interlock for at least 6 months as a condition of relicensing.
Queensland: a learner or provisional driver over 0.00 but under 0.05 faces 3 to 9 months’ disqualification for a first offence.

In Western Australia, a provisional driver can be disqualified and have their licence cancelled for a BAC of 0.02 or more. South Australian learners and P platers can be charged both with breaching their licence conditions and with the drink driving offence.

The morning after

WA’s Drive Safe gives about one hour per standard drink as a rough average for a healthy person. Your own rate can be slower, so don’t count hours to decide you are back to zero.
No amount of coffee or soft drink speeds this up.
Victoria’s handbook says drivers often test above zero the morning after drinking.
The ACT handbook says that after a large amount of alcohol the night before, you will probably still be over the limit the next morning.

Plan the next day’s drive when you plan the night out.

Rules for supervising drivers

Victoria: supervising drivers must be under 0.05. It is illegal to drink alcohol while supervising a learner.
NT: fully licensed supervisors must be under 0.05. Professional driving instructors must be at zero.
WA: supervisors face the same alcohol and drug limits as if they were driving.
ACT: drinking while supervising a learner is an offence.
NSW: police can drug test a supervisor as well as the driver.

More on supervision: supervising a learner driver in NSW.

Options that keep you at zero

Choose a driver who stays alcohol and drug free.
Stay the night.
Arrange a lift, or use public transport or a taxi.

Common questions

Can a P plater have one drink?

No. Every state and territory sets a zero limit for P platers. One drink will give you a BAC above zero.

Can learners drink if their supervisor is sober?

No. The zero limit applies to the learner driver. The supervisor has their own limit, usually under 0.05.

Can food or medicine put me over zero?

Some products contain alcohol. The ACT and NT handbooks say L and P drivers must not drive after consuming food containing alcohol. Check labels and ask a pharmacist if unsure.

How long does cannabis stay detectable?

It varies by person. The NSW handbook warns that drugs can remain in your system for a long time. If you have used drugs, do not drive.

When does the zero limit end?

It applies for as long as you hold your learner or provisional licence. In the NT, a zero condition continues for 12 months after your provisional period, or until you turn 25, whichever is sooner. Other states set their own rules for full licence holders under certain ages, so check your state.

Does the zero rule apply when I drive interstate?

Yes. Every state has a zero limit for novice drivers. The ACT handbook says ACT L and P drivers must comply with the BAC rules of the state they are in. See driving interstate on L or P plates.

Sources

Transport for NSW, “Road User Handbook” (nsw.gov.au)
Department of Transport and Planning Victoria, “Road to Solo Driving” (transport.vic.gov.au)
Street Smarts, Queensland Government, “Drink driving: Get the facts” (streetsmarts.initiatives.qld.gov.au)
Queensland Government, “Drink driving: motor vehicles” (qld.gov.au)
Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Drive Safe: A handbook for Western Australian road users” (transport.wa.gov.au)
Government of South Australia, “The Driver’s Handbook: Alcohol and drugs” (mylicence.sa.gov.au)
Department for Infrastructure and Transport SA, “Alcohol and Drug Screening information sheet” (dit.sa.gov.au)
Department of State Growth Tasmania, “Tasmanian Road Rules, Version 2.1” (transport.tas.gov.au)
Access Canberra, “ACT Road Rules Handbook” (accesscanberra.act.gov.au)
Northern Territory Government, “NT Road Users’ Handbook” (nt.gov.au)

Zero Alcohol for Learners and P Platers in Australia