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Controlled Drinking MPU Guideline-compliant assessment

Controlled drinking and MPU – is that possible?

Clear assessment instead of self-experimentation – directly with MPU experts.

Controlled drinking can be accepted in the MPU (Medical-Psychological Assessment) under certain conditions. Whether controlled drinking is possible in your case, or whether abstinence is required, depends on your history, the offense, and the specific questions posed in the MPU.

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Controlled drinking - MPU

What does controlled drinking mean for an MPU?

Controlled drinking is, under certain circumstances, a sensible alternative to complete alcohol abstinence. Both controlled drinking and alcohol abstinence are about reliably avoiding alcohol consumption/drunkenness in connection with driving. 

What is the goal of controlled drinking (CT) in the MPU?

The goal is to reliably separate alcohol from driving in order to ensure road safety for all road users. In many cases, alcohol abstinence is essential for a positive outcome. Medical-Psychological Examination (MPU) not mandatory. The MPU examiner wants to recognize that your goal is a permanent change in behavior – namely moderate, controlled alcohol consumption, which is consistently separated from driving.

 

CONTROLLED DRINKING FOR THE MPU

What conditions must be met for controlled drinking at the MPU?

  • Blood alcohol level below approximately 2,5 ‰
    (In individual cases, controlled drinking can still be argued for with values ​​above 2,0 ‰. Many websites use the 2 per mille limit, but this is not sustainable in practice.)

  • No repeat offender
    (If you have been caught with alcohol several times, controlled drinking is not impossible, but significantly less likely)

  • Age and potential for change
    (Younger people generally have a higher potential for change – but older people can also successfully demonstrate controlled drinking in the MPU if they can credibly demonstrate changes.)

  • Time of crime and drinking pattern
    (No advanced drinking patterns, e.g. with negative consequences for health, personal life or career)

👉 Note for readers: These points are the most important guides. Whether you controlled drinking is actually possible always depends on the individual case. 

It is therefore important that you obtain comprehensive information in good time, because Proof of abstinence of 6, 12 or even 15 months required. Further information can also be found at Shorten abstinence and under MPU without proof of abstinence. We would be happy to discuss your individual case in a free initial consultation together. Appointments are available online and can be booked immediately.

Controlled drinking during the MPU (Medical-Psychological Assessment) is not a self-experiment.

Drinking rules alone are not enough. In the MPU (Medical-Psychological Assessment), what counts is whether your approach is psychologically sound, consistent, and realistically explainable. This is precisely where many fail – despite seemingly correct rules.

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Traffic psychology assessment · realistic · non-binding

Whether controlled drinking is possible for your MPU depends on several factors:

In the following section you will find details on the points Blood alcohol level, repeat offenders, age and potential for change as well as drinking patternsthat you can use as a guide.

The blood alcohol level

There is no absolutely binding blood alcohol limit, but only a rough guideline: From approximately 2,5 ‰ BAC, controlled alcohol consumption can be discouraged. Under certain circumstances, controlled drinking may be considered even with blood alcohol levels significantly above 2 per mille. We would be happy to review your individual case.

Age

The MPU examiner generally believes that a younger person has significantly more potential for change, because a lot of changes usually occur during this stage of life (career, education, starting a family, etc.). The chances of controlled drinking are higher in this case. 

 

The average 50-year-old, on the other hand, typically lives in fairly entrenched and entrenched patterns. Against this backdrop, habits and routines often play a much more important role at this age. Statistical studies show that with increasing age, the way people consume alcohol usually becomes more entrenched and has been practiced for many years. Transitioning to controlled alcohol consumption is therefore a rather uncertain matter and significantly more difficult than for younger individuals. Complete abstinence from alcohol is therefore the more promising alternative.

The time and day of the week

This information is considered a very significant indicator of the extent to which alcohol may already be a significant part of your life. Drinking heavily on the weekends doesn't necessarily mean you'll have problems at work or in other areas of your life. 

However, anyone who has already been caught driving under the influence during the day and/or during the week is very likely no longer able to fulfill their professional obligations to the fullest, for example, or may have alcohol-related problems in other areas of life. This would then be a clear indication of an advanced alcohol problem. Controlled drinking would then definitely no longer be possible.

Am I a repeat offender?

Anyone who has been caught driving under the influence of alcohol several times is considered a repeat offender. In such cases, it is significantly less likely that controlled drinking will be accepted. Often—and according to the official assessment guidelines—assessors do not accept controlled drinking in these cases, but rather require complete abstinence from alcohol.

Based on the four criteria, it is possible to assess quite reliably whether controlled drinking is still acceptable. However, a clear decision is rarely possible, since the overall picture counts: The more unfavorable factors are present, the less likely controlled drinking is.

If abstinence is required, binding evidence must be provided according to the CTU criteria (e.g., 4 urine samples in 6 months, 6 urine samples in 12 months, or Hair analysis every 3 months). A maximum of 4 months may elapse between the end of the evidence and the MPU – longer breaks must be plausibly explained.

Controlled drinking during the MPU (Medical-Psychological Assessment) is not a self-experiment.

Drinking rules alone are not enough. In the MPU (Medical-Psychological Assessment), what counts is whether your approach is psychologically sound, consistent, and realistically explainable. This is precisely where many fail – despite seemingly correct rules.

Get a free professional assessment
Traffic psychology assessment · realistic · non-binding

Which rules are particularly important for controlled drinking at the MPU?

Controlled drinking (CD) refers to a consumption pattern in which the individual retains the freedom to drink to a predetermined extent in predefined situations (establishing a drinking plan and rules, including the amount consumed and parameters such as location and time). It is advisable to set three goals per week within such a plan:

Controlled drinking - MPU

The number of alcohol-free days

Controlled drinking - MPU

Maximum amount consumed on drinking days

Controlled drinking - MPU

Highest total consumption per week

More tips for controlled drinking with a plan:
  • Drink only on planned and special occasions. 
  • Decide how often you want to drink in a controlled manner per month.
  • Your blood alcohol level should not exceed 0,3 per mille. You must always keep yourself under control. 
  • Controlled drinking – how much should you drink? Define the maximum number of drinks you want to consume at a party (for example, a maximum of two 0,33 l beers).
  • Never arrive by car at planned drinking events.
  • Plan your round-trip journey in advance, take taxi money with you for any eventualities, or install a taxi app or UBER beforehand. 

Controlled drinking – what experiences are there in the MPU?

Controlled drinking - experiences in the MPU

If you fall into the A3 category and controlled drinking is possible, and you consistently drink moderately with strict rules over a period of several months, you will pass your MPU. The experience has been very positive. With controlled drinking, there is no proof required, as there is with complete abstinence from alcohol. However, you must credibly and comprehensibly demonstrate to the examiner that you drink moderately. Liver values Your levels of certain hormones (GOT, GPT, GGT) must also not be elevated. If the assessor has doubts about your ability to successfully and consistently implement controlled drinking, they will request a hair analysis, which can prove or disprove moderate consumption. If you choose controlled drinking, you must not cheat, as the assessor could detect it through a hair sample, and your MPU (Medical-Psychological Assessment) will then almost certainly be negative.

Controlled Drinking - Experiences

Experience shows that in many cases, controlled drinking is a sensible alternative to alcohol abstinence. However, it has also been shown time and again that controlled drinking is not a sure-fire success, and that relapses into old drinking patterns can occur. Clarify your individual case in a free consultation. MPU initial consultation with one of our traffic psychologists. Appointments are available online and can be booked immediately. Further information on our preparation and the requirements for a positive MPU can be found at MPU consultation.

Controlled drinking during the MPU (Medical-Psychological Assessment) is not a self-experiment.

Drinking rules alone are not enough. In the MPU (Medical-Psychological Assessment), what counts is whether your approach is psychologically sound, consistent, and realistically explainable. This is precisely where many fail – despite seemingly correct rules.

Get a free professional assessment
Traffic psychology assessment · realistic · non-binding
MPU expert Gunnar Hoyer
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