According to a survey conducted by Forsa for the German Association of Technical Inspection (TÜV), a significant majority of Germans favor a complete ban on alcohol when operating a vehicle. Specifically, 71 percent support a zero-tolerance policy for car drivers. This approval rating is higher for motorized two-wheelers, scooters, mopeds, and mopeds, where 74 percent concur. Even among electric scooters, support stands at 67 percent, and a narrow majority (54 percent) supports a zero-tolerance limit for bicycles. Almost one in two respondents (49 percent) supports the zero-tolerance limit across all vehicle types measured. Conversely, nearly one in five respondents (18 percent) fully reject the zero-tolerance limit.
There are noticeable differences in opinions between genders. Women demonstrate considerably greater support for an alcohol ban than men, with 78 percent of women and 63 percent of men favoring zero tolerance for car drivers. Overall, 57 percent of women support an alcohol ban for all types of vehicles, compared to only 40 percent of men. Furthermore, men (24 percent) were twice as likely to oppose an alcohol ban overall compared to women (12 percent).
Opinion divides also along age lines. Support for an absolute alcohol ban across all vehicle types rises steadily with age: 31 percent of respondents aged 18 to 29 favor this measure, followed by 47 percent (ages 30 to 44), 48 percent (ages 45 to 59), and a peak of 59 percent among those aged 60 and older. Focusing specifically on the zero-tolerance limit for drivers, 78 percent of respondents aged 60 and older support it, while only 62 percent of the 18 to 29 age group do.
Regarding risk perception, nearly all respondents (86 percent) believe that alcohol behind the wheel is highly dangerous, with 12 percent rating it as somewhat dangerous. This aligns with the fact that even small amounts of alcohol significantly increase the risk of accidents.
This study gathered responses from 2,504 individuals aged 18 and over and was conducted from March 19 to April 10, 2026.
