# Drunk driving in Japan: penalties, visa and license consequences

URL: https://japanhow.com/driving/license/drunk-driving-japan-foreigners/
Author: JapanHow editors
Updated: Oct 27, 2026

## Summary

Drunk driving in Japan is a crime from 0.15 mg of alcohol per liter of breath. The heavier drunk (酒酔い) offense has had a numeric line of 0.5 mg/L since 21 July 2026. Drivers face up to 3 or 5 years in prison or a ¥500,000 or ¥1 million fine, plus license suspension or revocation. Passengers, servers of alcohol and people who lend the car can be punished too. As of October 2026, no official source we found covers visa or PR effects.

## Key facts

- Offense starts at: 0.15 mg/L breath
- Maximum (drunk): 5 years or ¥1 million
- Revocation, 0.25 mg/L+: 2 to 3 years before reapplying
- Passengers: Also punishable

Drunk driving in Japan is a crime from **0.15 mg of alcohol per liter of breath**, and the heavier "drunk" offense (酒酔い運転) now has a numeric line of **0.5 mg/L**, in force since 21 July 2026. As of October 2026, the driver can face **up to 5 years in prison or a ¥1 million fine**, plus license suspension or revocation. People who lend the car, serve the alcohol or ride along knowing can be punished too.

## What is the drunk driving limit in Japan?

The Road Traffic Act (道路交通法) bans driving "after drinking" (酒気を帯びて), so there is no amount you can safely drink. Police split the offense into two levels:

- **Driving over the limit (酒気帯び運転):** breath alcohol of **0.15 mg/L or more**, but below the drunk level.
- **Drunk driving (酒酔い運転):** breath alcohol of **0.5 mg/L or more** (blood 1.0 mg/mL or more), **or** any state where alcohol means you may not be able to drive normally.

Before 21 July 2026, the drunk offense had no number: police judged whether you were visibly impaired. The change came from Act No. 52 of 2026 (令和8年法律第52号). You can still be charged with the drunk offense below 0.5 mg/L if you are judged unable to drive normally. The law covers cars, motorcycles and bicycles.

## What are the penalties for drunk driving in Japan?

Tokyo police list these penalties and administrative actions (as of their July 2026 leaflet). Prison is now called 拘禁刑 (imprisonment), which replaced 懲役.

| Level | Prison or fine | Points | License action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drunk driving (酒酔い) | Up to 5 years or ¥1,000,000 | 35 | Revoked, 3 years before you can reapply |
| Over the limit, 0.25 mg/L or more | Up to 3 years or ¥500,000 | 25 | Revoked, 2 years before you can reapply |
| Over the limit, 0.15 to under 0.25 mg/L | Up to 3 years or ¥500,000 | 13 | Suspended for 90 days |

The police note that these license actions assume no earlier violations or points. The years in the table are the waiting period (欠格期間) before you can apply for a license again. These are criminal cases, not blue-ticket fines. See our [traffic tickets and license points guide](/driving/license/traffic-tickets-license-points-japan/) for how red tickets work.

## Who else is liable besides the driver?

The Road Traffic Act also bans three other acts, each with its own penalty:

| Who | If the driver is over the limit | If the driver is drunk |
|---|---|---|
| Person who lends the car or vehicle | Up to 3 years or ¥500,000 | Up to 5 years or ¥1,000,000 |
| Person who serves or urges alcohol on someone who will drive | Up to 2 years or ¥300,000 | Up to 3 years or ¥500,000 |
| Passenger who asked for the ride, knowing the driver drank | Up to 2 years or ¥300,000 | Up to 3 years or ¥500,000 |

In practice, this means a friend who hands over keys, a host who keeps pouring for a guest with a car, and a coworker who asks for a lift home can all be charged. "I wasn't driving" is not a defense for a passenger who knew.

## What happens to my license?

If you hold a Japanese license, the public safety commission (公安委員会) decides the action. The law lets it revoke the license for drunk driving. Suspension can run up to 6 months. The table above shows the standard outcome for a first offense.

If you drive on an IDP or a converted foreign license, the same criminal penalties apply. Our [IDP guide](/driving/license/international-driving-permit-japan/) covers the 1-year limit, and our [license renewal guide](/driving/license/drivers-license-renewal-japan-foreigners/) covers what a revoked license means later.

## What does a conviction mean for my visa or permanent residency?

Here the sources are thin, so we state only what they say.

- The Immigration Services Agency (出入国在留管理庁) permanent residency guideline, revised 24 February 2026, asks that you live lawfully and have **not received a fine or prison sentence** (罰金刑や拘禁刑).
- For visa renewal, the agency decides on the whole picture: your status of residence, need to stay and appropriateness. Its published refusal examples include a ¥300,000 fine in an unrelated case and suspended prison sentences for fraud, theft and drug offenses. None of the examples is about drunk driving.
- We found no official page that says drunk driving leads to deportation, or how many years a record counts against a renewal or a PR application.

**Get your own advice:** Whether a drunk-driving case affects your residence status depends on the sentence, your visa type and your history. Ask a licensed immigration specialist (行政書士) or a lawyer (弁護士) before you apply or renew. This page is general information only.

## What should I do if police stop me or I hit someone?

If you were drinking and had an accident, the usual accident duties still apply: stop, help the injured and call the police. See [car accident in Japan: what to do](/driving/cars/car-accident-japan-what-to-do/). We did not find official guidance on interpreters or on how long a foreign driver can be held, so ask for an interpreter, a lawyer or your embassy if you do not understand what you are signing.

The simplest rule from the law: if you plan to drive, don't drink, and don't ask a driver who has been drinking to take you home.

## More guides

- [Traffic tickets and license points in Japan](/driving/license/traffic-tickets-license-points-japan/)
- [Car accident in Japan: what to do](/driving/cars/car-accident-japan-what-to-do/)
- [Bicycle rules in Japan](/driving/cycling/bicycle-rules-japan/)
- [Permanent residency in Japan: requirements](/visa/residency/permanent-residency-japan-requirements/)
- [Visa renewal in Japan](/visa/visas/visa-renewal-japan/)

## Questions people ask

### What is the drunk driving limit in Japan?

There is no safe amount. Driving with 0.15 mg or more of alcohol per liter of breath is drunk driving (酒気帯び運転). Since 21 July 2026, 0.5 mg/L or more also counts as the tougher drunk (酒酔い) offense.

### Can a passenger be punished for drunk driving in Japan?

Yes. A passenger who rides knowing the driver has been drinking, and who asked the driver for the ride, can face up to 2 years or ¥300,000 (driver over the limit) or 3 years or ¥500,000 (driver drunk). The same applies to anyone who serves alcohol to a person who will drive.

### Can I be deported for drunk driving in Japan?

We could not confirm this from an official source. The Immigration Services Agency's published guidelines do not name drunk driving. Ask a licensed immigration specialist (行政書士) or a lawyer about your own case.

### Will a drunk driving conviction affect my permanent residency application?

The Immigration Services Agency's permanent residency guideline (revised 24 February 2026) lists not having received a fine or prison sentence among its requirements. It does not say how a drunk-driving case is weighed, so ask an immigration specialist.

### Does the alcohol limit apply on a bicycle?

Yes. The Road Traffic Act covers bicycles, and since 1 November 2024 riding over the alcohol limit is punishable. See our bicycle rules guide for the penalties.

## Sources

- [飲酒運転根絶 交通安全情報 (2026年7月)](https://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/kotsu/jikoboshi/torikumi/kotsu_joho/inshu.files/202607_3.pdf), Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department (警視庁) (accessed Oct 27, 2026)
- [道路交通法](https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/335AC0000000105), e-Gov 法令検索 (Digital Agency) (accessed Oct 27, 2026)
- [「酒酔い運転」の要件に「数値基準」が新設されます](https://www.pref.kumamoto.jp/site/police/273750.html), Kumamoto Prefectural Police (熊本県警) (accessed Oct 27, 2026)
- [永住許可に関するガイドライン (令和8年2月24日改訂)](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/resources/nyukan_nyukan50.html), Immigration Services Agency (出入国在留管理庁) (accessed Oct 27, 2026)
- [在留資格の変更、在留期間の更新許可のガイドライン (不許可事例)](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/resources/nyukan_nyukan66.html), Immigration Services Agency (出入国在留管理庁) (accessed Oct 27, 2026)