Kazakhstan plans to introduce a 0.3 per mille threshold for alcohol testing

Tengrinews.kz — The Ministry of Health is drafting new regulations for blood alcohol testing for drivers. The proposed rules include a threshold of 0.3 per mille, Gulnara Sarsenbaeva, a representative of the department.
The threshold is necessary to determine whether a person is truly intoxicated or if the readings can be attributed to other factors, said Gulnara Sarsenbaeva, Director of the Department of Medical Care Organization at the Ministry of Health.

"If a reading of 0.3 per mille or higher is recorded, it will be considered a confirmed case of alcohol consumption. Anything below 0.3 per mille may be an indicator of endogenous alcohol—a product of metabolic processes," she said.

According to Sarsenbaeva, low levels of alcohol in exhaled air can be linked to metabolic characteristics and the consumption of certain foods. The new rule is proposed to reduce the number of disputed cases where breathalyzers show readings between 0.2 and 0.3 per mille.
However, the device reading alone will not be the sole basis for a diagnosis of intoxication. Medical professionals will also evaluate speech, gaze, movement, and coordination, and will take laboratory data into account if necessary. A determination of intoxication and its severity will be based on the totality of these signs.
When the new rules will take effect
The draft order has already undergone public discussion but has not yet been adopted. It is currently being prepared for coordination with government agencies. According to Sarsenbaeva, this process may take time; the new rules could be approved by the end of the year or in early 2027.
Until the order is adopted, the 0.3 per mille threshold is not in effect. These are proposed changes and do not constitute permission to drive after consuming alcohol.
Context
In March, we reported that the Ministry of Health proposed establishing a 0.3 per mille threshold for medical examinations. At that time, the department explained the initiative as a response to potential breathalyzer errors and individual physiological characteristics. The project has now passed the discussion phase and is being finalized for approval.
The table detailing per mille levels was removed from the regulations in 2020. At that time, the Ministry of Health explained that breathalyzer readings do not serve as the sole basis for a medical conclusion; doctors must assess a person's condition comprehensively.
The topic regularly sparks debate among drivers. For example, in 2025, an official detained while driving attributed the smell of alcohol to drinking kumis but refused a medical examination. The court sentenced him to 15 days in custody and revoked his driver's license for eight years.