Alcohol, drugs and implied consent

Key points

1. Driving under the influence of any drug, including prescription and non prescription drugs, is illegal.

   Source: Handbook p. 49

   “It is illegal to drive under the influence of any drugs, this includes prescription and non-prescription drugs.”
   Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, Handbook p. 49

2. The legal alcohol concentration for drivers under 21 is 0.00%.

   Source: Handbook p. 49

   “The legal alcohol concentration allowed for drivers under the age of 21 is 0.00%.”
   Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, Handbook p. 49

3. Any amount of a controlled substance is the same as operating impaired.

   Source: Handbook p. 49

   “Any amount of a controlled substance is the same as operating impaired.”
   Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, Handbook p. 49

4. Before you drive, check the warning label for side effects. If it says do not operate heavy machinery, that includes motor vehicles.

   Source: Handbook p. 49

   “Before you get behind the wheel, check the warning label for side effects. If the label says do not operate heavy machinery, this includes motor vehicles.”
   Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, Handbook p. 49

5. Time is the only thing that will sober you up.

   Source: Handbook p. 49

   “Time is the only thing that will sober you up.”
   Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, Handbook p. 49

6. If an officer asks you to take a PAC test, you must agree to take it.

   Source: Handbook p. 49

   “If a police officer asks you to take a prohibited alcohol concentration (PAC) test, you must agree to take it.”
   Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, Handbook p. 49

7. If you refuse, you are arrested and lose driving privileges for at least one year.

   Source: Handbook p. 49

   “If you refuse, the officer must arrest you for violation of the Implied Consent Law. You will lose your driving privileges for at least one year”
   Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, Handbook p. 49

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Wisconsin practice test

1. 1. A Wisconsin driver under 21 has what legal alcohol concentration limit while driving?

   1. 0.08 percent
   2. 0.02 percent
   3. 0.05 percent
   4. 0.00 percent
   Show answer

   0.00 percent. The handbook describes a zero-tolerance rule for drivers under 21: no alcohol may be in the driver's system while operating a vehicle. That makes 0.00 percent the applicable limit. The 0.08 percent choice is not a figure this handbook passage gives for drivers under 21. The smaller nonzero choices still permit measurable alcohol, which conflicts with Wisconsin's stated rule. A practical memory cue is that under-21 driving and alcohol must be separated completely, not merely kept below an adult threshold.

2. 2. A Wisconsin driver is asked to take a prohibited alcohol concentration test and refuses. What consequence does the handbook describe?

   1. The driver may refuse if no crash occurred
   2. The driver receives only a written warning for a first refusal
   3. The refusal changes the charge to a parking violation
   4. The officer must arrest the driver, and driving privileges are lost for at least one year
   Show answer

   The officer must arrest the driver, and driving privileges are lost for at least one year. Wisconsin treats refusal of a requested prohibited alcohol concentration test as a violation of the Implied Consent Law. The officer must arrest the person, and the handbook says driving privileges will be lost for at least one year, with additional consequences possible. A warning is not the described outcome, and neither the absence of a crash nor a different traffic charge creates an exception. When an officer lawfully requests the test, remember that refusal itself triggers the arrest and revocation consequences. The key cue is the phrase prohibited alcohol concentration test, not a voluntary roadside conversation.

3. 3. What does the Wisconsin handbook say is the only thing that will sober a driver up?

   1. A short nap in the vehicle
   2. Coffee
   3. Cold air
   4. Time
   Show answer

   Time. Wisconsin's alcohol guidance is direct: time is the only thing that will sober you up. Coffee, cold air, or a quick nap may make someone feel more alert, but they do not remove alcohol from the body fast enough to make driving safe. The handbook also recommends a sober friend, family member, or cab instead of driving after drinking. The practical cue is any drinking before a trip: do not test your own alertness, arrange a ride and wait.

Source: the Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, Section 9: Dangerous Driving Behaviors. 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.