Key points
If you are 21 or older, a blood alcohol level of .08 or higher is driving under the influence.
Source: Handbook p. 81
“if you are of legal drinking age (21 or older), you are considered to be driving "while under the influence" if your blood alcohol level is .08 or higher.”
Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), Handbook p. 81Under 21, you are driving under the influence at a blood alcohol level of .02 or greater.
Source: Handbook p. 82
“If you are under 21, you are considered to be driving under the influence if your blood alcohol level is .02 or greater.”
Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), Handbook p. 82Refusing a breath or blood test after a DUI arrest means an automatic one year suspension.
Source: Handbook p. 82
“you refuse to take one (1) or more chemical tests of breath or blood, your driving privilege will be automatically suspended for one (1) year.”
Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), Handbook p. 82The one year refusal suspension applies even if you are found not guilty of DUI.
Source: Handbook p. 82
“Even if you are found not guilty of driving while under the influence, your driving privilege will be suspended for one (1) year for a first-time refusal”
Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), Handbook p. 82The chemical test refusal restoration fee is $500 for a first offense, $1,000 for a second and $2,000 after that.
Source: Handbook p. 82
“First offense is $500, second offense is $1,000, and third or subsequent offense is $2,000.”
Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), Handbook p. 82Under 21, a first DUI means 2 days to 6 months in jail, a one year suspension and a $500 to $5,000 fine.
Source: Handbook p. 84
“If you are under 21 and are convicted of DUI for the first time, you will go to jail for a term ranging from two (2) days to six (6) months, your license will be suspended for a full year, and you will pay a fine of $500 to $5,000.”
Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), Handbook p. 84Under 21, it is illegal to buy, drink or possess alcohol, or have alcohol in the vehicle you drive.
Source: Handbook p. 84
“If you are under age 21, it is against the law to buy alcohol, consume alcohol, have alcohol in your possession or have alcohol in the vehicle you are driving.”
Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), Handbook p. 84The minimum penalty for underage drinking is a fine of up to $500 plus court costs.
Source: Handbook p. 84
“The minimum penalty for underage drinking is a fine of up to $500 plus court costs.”
Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), Handbook p. 84Adults who supply alcohol to minors face at least $1,000 for the first offense and $2,500 for each additional one.
Source: Handbook p. 84
“are subject to a fine of at least $1,000 for the first offense and $2,500 for each additional offense and face up to one year in jail.”
Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), Handbook p. 84One drink is 1.5 oz. of 80 proof liquor, 12 oz. of beer or 5 oz. of wine.
Source: Handbook p. 34
“You should consider one (1) drink to be 1.5 oz. of 80 proof liquor, 12 oz. of regular beer, or 5 oz. of wine.”
Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), Handbook p. 34
Numbers to know
| Number | What it means | Manual |
|---|---|---|
| 0.08 | DUI level at 21 and over | Handbook p. 81 |
| 21 | legal drinking age | Handbook p. 81 |
| 0.02 | DUI level under 21 | Handbook p. 82 |
| 1 year | suspension for a first test refusal | Handbook p. 82 |
| $500 | first refusal restoration fee | Handbook p. 82 |
| $1,000 | second refusal restoration fee | Handbook p. 82 |
| $2,000 | later refusal restoration fee | Handbook p. 82 |
| 2 days to 6 months | jail for an underage first DUI | Handbook p. 84 |
| $500 to $5,000 | fine for an underage first DUI | Handbook p. 84 |
| $500 | underage drinking fine | Handbook p. 84 |
| $1,000 | first offense fine for supplying minors | Handbook p. 84 |
| $2,500 | fine for each additional offense | Handbook p. 84 |
| 1.5 oz. | liquor in one drink | Handbook p. 34 |
| 12 oz. | beer in one drink | Handbook p. 34 |
| 5 oz. | wine in one drink | Handbook p. 34 |
| 80 proof | liquor strength in the drink example | Handbook p. 34 |
3 questions from the Pennsylvania practice test
1. A Pennsylvania driver younger than 21 has a BAC of .02 percent. How does the manual classify that reading?
- It is driving under the influence under the under-21 rule
- It matters only if the reading reaches .08 percent
- It is permitted when a licensed adult is supervising
- It is below every Pennsylvania alcohol threshold
Show answer
It is driving under the influence under the under-21 rule. Pennsylvania treats a driver under 21 as driving under the influence at a BAC of .02 percent or more. The adult-oriented .08 figure cannot be carried over to a minor, and supervision does not create an alcohol exception. Calling .02 below every limit ignores the specific zero-tolerance standard described in the manual. On a permit question, identify whether the driver is younger than 21, then compare the reading with .02 rather than with the adult table.
2. A Pennsylvania driver refuses a first chemical test and is later found not guilty of DUI. What license consequence remains?
- An automatic one-year suspension of the driving privilege
- A written warning with no loss of driving privilege
- An automatic five-year revocation
- No suspension because the DUI case ended in acquittal
Show answer
An automatic one-year suspension of the driving privilege. The Implied Consent law imposes a one year suspension for a first refusal of a breath or blood test, even when the driver is not convicted of DUI. The acquittal choice confuses the criminal outcome with the separate licensing consequence. A warning does not describe the statutory action, and five years is not the first-refusal period. A prior DUI conviction or prior refusal changes the later penalty, but it does not erase the first-refusal rule.
3. Under Pennsylvania's underage drinking rule, what is the maximum fine for a first offense?
- Exactly $100 with no court costs
- Up to $500 plus court costs
- Up to $1,000 and an automatic two-year suspension
- A warning unless a vehicle was involved
Show answer
Up to $500 plus court costs. For a person under 21, Pennsylvania makes buying, consuming, possessing alcohol, or having it in the vehicle unlawful. The minimum penalty described in the manual is a fine of up to $500 plus court costs. The $100 option changes the amount, and the warning option wrongly makes the rule depend on driving. The manual also notes possible evaluation and alcohol education, so the consequence is not limited to a traffic stop. Remember that this rule applies even when no vehicle is involved.
Practice this topic
Lock it in with alcohol and dui questions from the free Pennsylvania practice test. Every answer comes with a plain English explanation.
Source: the Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), Chapter 4: Driving Record Information. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.