You may have heard that Georgia has a “zero tolerance” policy when it comes to underage DUI. While that phrase is commonly used, the reality is a little more specific.
In Georgia, if a driver is under the age of 21 and submits to a chemical test showing a blood alcohol concentration of 0.02% or higher, that is considered a DUI per se violation.
So technically, it’s not zero in the literal sense — but the threshold is set extremely low. For drivers under 21, even a very small amount of alcohol can result in a DUI charge.
The reasoning behind this lower limit is straightforward: individuals under 21 are not legally permitted to consume alcohol. As a result, the law imposes a much stricter standard for underage drivers than it does for those 21 and older.
Because the legal limit is so low, these cases can move quickly and carry serious consequences, including license suspension and other penalties. Understanding how the 0.02% standard applies is critical when defending an underage DUI case.
