It’s a fact that a drunk can cause way more damage when driving a car than riding a bike.
Great news from Hungary, as since last weekend it’s no longer a crime to ride a bicycle drunk. The Central European country had a zero tolerance policy for driving under influence on major roads, no matter what vehicle it was. With a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0,05 (0,5 by European standards) or more one would get a fine of 30.000 forints (almost 100 euro) before. But since last Saturday everything changed in Hungary. Cyclists can now be as drunk as they want on all roads. The decision to make a modification to the 2012 traffic regulations came as a complete surprise. The news was simply published in the official gazette of the government with the signature of Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The simple logic behind the new law: “Drunk cyclists can only hurt themselves, not others like drivers of motor vehicles.”
Now before this weekend it was already allowed to ride drunk on minor, secondary roads in Hungary. But who can tell the difference between a major and a minor road when he’s completely smashed on pálinka right? Also this might work in the countryside, but it’s probably kind of hard to avoid major roads when you have been drinking in the city centre. Meanwhile the Hungarian law didn’t get softer for people who drink and drive a car. This will still leads to major fines, bans from driving, confiscation of drivers licenses and jail time. We believe the latest modification of the Hungarian laws are a big improvement, especially in these times where most governments only seem to want to make life impossible for drinkers. In Hungary there’s no valid excuse anymore to take the car instead of the bike and we can apreciate a good fail compilation of drunk cyclists of course. So egészségedre to the new law!
Related links on Lords of the Drinks:
The highest measured scores in blood alcohol concentration
The limits for drinking and driving per country
An epic birthday that ended ina Dutch canal
The amazing alcohol stories in cycling
Lords of the Drinks 
That’s it, I am moving to Hungary. What language(s) do they speak there?
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Hahaha try Hungarian. Very difficult language that is nothing like the Slavic languages in the countries around it but I know all the important phrases, so don’t worry mate. It’s a lovely country with very friendly people and great beers, wines and of course palinka! 😀
Cheers,
Micky
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WHAT!!?
any drunk driving a vehicle of any type is dangerous. those politicians musta bin drunk when they passed this law.
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Hahaha nah man… In Holland we all ride bikes completely drunk. You can only hurt yourself. But you can also get struck by lightning or fall down the stairs. Life should be fun.
Cheers,
Micky
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