Driving Tests

Newfoundland Zero Alcohol Rule for Drivers Under 22

informational·how to guide·Published May 22, 2026

Can I drive after any alcohol if I am under 22 with a full licence in Newfoundland and Labrador?

No. Under the Highway Traffic Act (s. 60.4), a breath result of more than 0 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood gives a driver under 22 with a full licence a 7-day suspension. At 80 mg or more, a 90-day suspension follows, starting on the fourteenth day after the 7 days end. Drivers 22 or older who are not novice drivers have a 50 mg limit.

Where these rules come from

The limits and suspension periods are in sections 60.1, 60.4, 60.7, 60.9, 60.10 and 60.12 of the Highway Traffic Act, RSNL 1990 c H-3. The reinstatement and appeal steps come from the Motor Registration Division (MRD) page on administrative suspensions, and the CAD 200 reinstatement fee comes from the MRD Fees Policy (updated December 21, 2023). The novice driver definition is in the Highway Traffic Driver Regulations, 1999, and the notes on blood alcohol and impoundment are from the MRD Driver's Handbook. This guide is current as of 2026, and it follows the Act where another page words a rule differently. Confirm the rules with the Motor Registration Division (gov.nl.ca/motorregistration) before you drive.

What the zero alcohol limit means for a driver under 22

A peace officer can demand a breath sample under section 320.27 or 320.28 of the Criminal Code. If the roadside screening device (s. 60.1(1)(d)) or an approved instrument (s. 60.1(1)(e)) shows more than 0 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood, the officer asks you to surrender your licence. The 0 mg limit lists each driver under 22 (s. 60.1(1)(d)(i)(C)), so it covers you as a full licence holder. After a roadside device result, the officer must tell you that you can ask for a second test on an approved instrument. The second result governs (s. 60.1(3) and (4)).

Suspension periods for a driver under 22 who is not a novice driver

Suspension periods for a driver under 22 who is not a novice driver
What happens	Suspension	Section
Breath result of more than 0 mg in 100 ml of blood	7 days from the time of the request	s. 60.4(4)
Breath result of 80 mg or more	The 7 days, then 90 days that begin on the fourteenth day after the 7 days end	s. 60.4(4) and (5)
You fail or refuse to comply with a demand under the Criminal Code	7 days, then 90 days beginning on the fourteenth day after the 7 days end	s. 60.4(1)
Blood sample of more than 0 mg	7 days that begin on the fourteenth day after you receive the certificate of analysis	s. 60.4(7)
Blood sample of 80 mg or more	90 days that begin on the fourteenth day after the 7-day suspension ends	s. 60.4(8)

Under 22, novice driver or 22 and older: how the limits differ

Under 22, novice driver or 22 and older: how the limits differ
Driver	Alcohol limit	Suspension for a breath result over the limit
Under 22, full licence (not a novice driver)	More than 0 mg in 100 ml of blood (s. 60.1(1)(d)(i)(C))	7 days (s. 60.4(4))
Novice driver (Level I or Level II)	More than 0 mg in 100 ml of blood (s. 60.1(1)(d)(i)(A))	2 months the first time, 4 months the second time, 6 months a later time (s. 60.5(2) and (4))
22 or older, not a novice driver	50 mg or more in 100 ml of blood (s. 60.1(1)(d)(ii))	7 days (s. 60.2(3))

Why novice status changes your suspension

A novice driver is a person who holds Level I or Level II of a Class 5 or Class 6 licence. A full Class 5 licence holder under 22 is not a novice driver, so section 60.4 applies, not section 60.5. A novice driver must also apply to the Registrar to have the licence reinstated at the start of the level and class held (s. 60.5(9)). The novice driver penalties guide covers that group.

First, second and third suspension within 24 months

First, second and third suspension within 24 months
Occasion	Suspension	Section
First 7-day suspension	7 days from the time of the request	s. 60.4(4)
Second 7-day suspension within 24 consecutive months	The Registrar suspends your licence for 14 days	s. 60.9(a)
Third	The Registrar suspends your licence for 2 months	s. 60.9(b)
Fourth	4 months	s. 60.9(c)
Fifth or later	6 months	s. 60.9(d)

How suspensions stack and what else can follow

A 7-day suspension runs at the same time as an earlier suspension that has not ended (s. 60.7(1)).
A 90-day suspension runs after any other unexpired suspension, except a suspension under section 65, which it runs with (s. 60.7(2)).
Impaired drivers may also be charged under the Criminal Code, and that charge is separate from the administrative suspension.

How to get your licence back after an impaired driving suspension

1
Wait for the 7 days to end
After a 7-day suspension ends, the officer returns the licence you surrendered, to the address on it or to another address you ask for (s. 60.7(4)).
2
Pay the reinstatement fee
The MRD lists the reinstatement fee for the 7-day suspension of a driver under 22 who is not a novice driver. The MRD Fees Policy (updated December 21, 2023) lists Driver's Licence Reinstatement at CAD 200. You can send the reinstatement application online with the MRD form.
3
After a 90-day suspension, apply in writing
For the 90-day suspension that follows a confirmed drug result, the MRD row for drivers under 22 lists a written application to the Registrar, the reinstatement fee and the alcohol and drug education program "Think First" (SHIP) if you reinstate before court. For a 90-day suspension after an alcohol result or a refusal, ask the MRD which of these steps apply to you.
4
Expect more if you are convicted
After a Criminal Code conviction, the MRD page adds an Alcohol and Drug Assessment (ADT) and an Ignition Interlock. The free practice question on the purpose of an ignition interlock covers what the device does.

Can you appeal a 90-day suspension?

You are not the person who was asked for the sample

You may appeal to the Registrar (s. 60.12(1)(a)).

You failed or refused a demand because you could not give a sample for medical reasons

You may appeal to the Registrar (s. 60.12(1)(b)).

One of these two grounds applies to you

Submit the appeal to the Registrar in writing, in the prescribed form, within 30 days of the day the officer asked you to surrender your licence (s. 60.12(2)). You can ask for a written or an oral hearing.

Frequently asked questions

How many drinks can I have before I drive if I am under 22?

None. Any result above 0 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood gives a 7-day suspension. Your body breaks down alcohol in its own way: a smaller body, an empty stomach and fast drinking all give a higher blood alcohol level from the same drink. The free practice question on why counting drinks is unreliable shows why.

Does the zero alcohol rule apply if I am not the one driving?

Yes, if you have care or control of the vehicle. The 0 mg test also covers a person under 22 who has care or control of a motor vehicle, not only the person who drives it (s. 60.1(1)(d)(i)(D)), and section 60.4 gives that person the same suspensions.

Can a drug get my licence suspended too?

Yes. If the officer has reasonable grounds to believe that a drug, or a drug and alcohol together, impairs you, or a drug screening shows a drug as set in the regulations, the suspension is 7 days (s. 60.4(2) and (3)). If a lab analysis confirms a drug at or above the set level, 90 days begin on the fourteenth day after you receive the certificate of analysis (s. 60.4(6)).

What happens if I refuse to give a breath sample?

A refusal gives a 7-day suspension from the time of the request, then 90 days that begin on the fourteenth day after the 7 days end (s. 60.4(1)). A refusal can also lead to a conviction under both federal and provincial laws. The free practice question on refusing an impaired-driving test covers the lawful choice.

Do I still lose my licence if I do not hand it over to the officer?

Yes. You must surrender your licence at once when the officer asks (s. 60.1(2)), and the suspension applies whether or not you surrender it (s. 60.4(9)). The officer gives you a notice with the time the suspension starts and its length (s. 60.7(3)).

What happens to my car if my licence is suspended at the roadside?

If nobody with a licence is easily available to move it with your consent, the officer may move the vehicle to a nearby legal parking area and tell you where it is. You pay the moving and storage costs (s. 60.10). The Driver's Handbook also says that at 80 mg or more, the vehicle will be impounded.

Key takeaways

A driver under 22 with a full licence is over the limit at more than 0 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood.
The first suspension is 7 days. At 80 mg or more, or after a refusal, 90 days follow from the fourteenth day after the 7 days end.
Repeat 7-day suspensions within 24 consecutive months add 14 days, 2 months, 4 months and 6 months (s. 60.9).
The reinstatement fee is CAD 200 under the MRD Fees Policy (updated December 21, 2023), and you can apply for reinstatement online.
Next step: practise the alcohol and impairment questions on the free Newfoundland and Labrador Class 5I practice test.