Gaimen50-question practice tests in the real exam formatWhat does 酒気帯び運転 (shuki-obi unten) mean? Drink-driving
Updated: 2026-10
酒気帯び運転 (しゅきおびうんてん, shuki-obi unten) means driving with alcohol in your body. Article 65(1) of the Road Traffic Act bans driving 'while carrying alcohol' regardless of the amount, and 0.15 mg or more per liter of breath is a criminal offense. Classic test pattern: 'a small amount is fine' is false; 'even below the limit, if you may be unable to drive normally, it is drunk driving (酒酔い運転)' is true.
Legal meaning
Article 65(1) of the Road Traffic Act (道路交通法) says no one may drive a 車両等 while carrying alcohol. The ban itself has no lower limit. Numbers appear in the penalty provisions: driving with 0.3 mg or more per ml of blood, or 0.15 mg or more per liter of breath, is punished as 酒気帯び運転 (Art. 117-2-2(1)(iii); Enforcement Order Art. 44-3).
The heavier offense, 酒酔い運転, is driving while drunk. An amendment in force from 21 July 2026 added 1.0 mg or more per ml of blood or 0.5 mg or more per liter of breath to the definition of being drunk. Below that, it is still 酒酔い運転 if alcohol may prevent you from driving normally (Art. 117-2(1)(i)).
Levels, penalties and points
Points are the base points for general violations. Even with no prior record, 13 points (under 0.25) reach the suspension threshold, and 25 points (0.25 or more) or 35 points (drunk driving) reach the revocation threshold.
| Offense | Level | Penalty | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 酒気帯び運転 | Breath 0.15 to under 0.25 mg/L | Up to 3 years' imprisonment or a fine up to 500,000 yen | 13 |
| 酒気帯び運転 | Breath 0.25 mg/L or more | Same | 25 |
| 酒酔い運転 | Breath 0.5 mg/L or more, or possibly unable to drive normally | Up to 5 years' imprisonment or a fine up to 1,000,000 yen | 35 |
Not only the driver is punished
Drink-driving involves others too (Art. 65(2)–(4)). Penalties depend on whether the driver was at the 酒気帯び or 酒酔い level.
- Do not provide a vehicle to someone carrying alcohol who may drive
- Do not serve alcohol to, or urge drinking on, someone who may drive
- Do not ask a driver you know is carrying alcohol to take you, and ride with them
- Riding a bicycle with alcohol in your system is also punishable (light vehicles other than bicycles excepted)
How it appears on the test, and the traps
Watch for 酒気帯び and 酒酔い being swapped, and for the numbers 0.15, 0.25 and 0.5 being switched.
- 'Driving with 0.15 mg or more per liter of breath is 酒気帯び運転' → True
- 'One glass of beer is fine before driving' → False (banned regardless of amount)
- 'Even below the limit, if alcohol may prevent normal driving, it is 酒酔い運転' → True
- 'A passenger who knew the driver had been drinking is not punished because they were not driving' → False
- 'Alcohol from the night before has no effect the next morning' → False (the rules warn it may linger)
Practice questions using this term
FAQ
Q. Can I drive if I am under 0.15 mg?
A. No. Driving while carrying alcohol is itself banned. 0.15 mg is the threshold for criminal penalties.
Q. What is the difference between 酒気帯び運転 and 酒酔い運転?
A. 酒気帯び is 0.15 mg/L or more in breath; 酒酔い is 0.5 mg/L or more, or a state where you may be unable to drive normally. 酒酔い is punished more heavily.
Q. Does it apply to bicycles?
A. Yes. Riding a bicycle with alcohol in your system is also punishable.