Rules at sea in Sweden: alcohol, lifejackets and seamanship
Sweden's fixed blood alcohol limit at sea is 0.2, and it applies to any vessel capable of at least 15 knots or with a hull of at least ten metres. Everyone on board must have a CE-marked lifejacket in the right size.
Sweden has the strictest alcohol limit at sea in the Nordics, and it catches out visitors used to more permissive rules at home. Here is what actually applies when you rent a boat in Swedish waters.
The alcohol limit is 0.2
The fixed limit for boating under the influence in Sweden is 0.2 per mille. The rule applies to every vessel capable of being driven at at least 15 knots, or with a hull at least ten metres long.
Note that meeting either condition is enough. A placid ten-metre sailing boat is covered even though it will never approach 15 knots, and a small fast boat is covered even though it is well under ten metres.
Boating under the influence is an offence under the Maritime Code. Sweden has tightened its alcohol rules at sea steadily over several decades, most recently in 2010.
The limit is not only for whoever is steering
Both the person operating the vessel and others on board with duties of significant importance to its safe operation are covered by the rules.
So 'I wasn't at the helm' is not necessarily an answer. If someone is navigating, keeping lookout or holding any other role that matters to safety, the limit applies to them too.
Aggravated offence from 1.0
Anyone with 1 per mille of alcohol in their blood or more is normally convicted of the aggravated offence.
The Swedish Coast Guard and the police may carry out random sobriety checks at sea in Swedish waters. This is not a theoretical possibility — it is a form of enforcement they use actively.
A lifejacket for everyone on board
Transportstyrelsen is unambiguous: everyone on board must have a lifejacket in the correct size, and it must be CE-marked.
Leisure lifejackets are graded by buoyancy in three classes — 50, 100 and 150 newtons. A person needs between 20 and 30 newtons of extra buoyancy to stay afloat. The safest is the rescue vest, available at 100N and 150N, with a collar that holds the head up.
Children and adults who cannot swim should wear a rescue vest. Inflatable jackets should be used only by swimmers and must be checked regularly — several accidents have involved jackets that failed to inflate.
Good seamanship is the real standard
Beneath every individual rule sits a general one: the vessel must be manned in a safe manner, and an operator who fails in good seamanship can be fined or imprisoned.
In practice that means responsibility follows you, not the boat. Check the weather before you leave, know where you are, match your speed to conditions, and have a plan for raising the alarm if something happens.
Common questions
What is the alcohol limit at sea in Sweden?
The fixed limit is 0.2 per mille, applying to any vessel capable of at least 15 knots or with a hull of at least ten metres.
Is the Swedish limit the same as Norway's?
No. Sweden sets 0.2 per mille for vessels doing at least 15 knots or with a hull of at least ten metres. Norway sets 0.8 for leisure boats under 15 metres. Cross the border and the limit changes.
Does the limit apply to a small open boat?
The fixed limit covers vessels capable of at least 15 knots or with a hull of at least ten metres. A boat under both is outside the fixed limit — but the requirement of good seamanship applies regardless, and operating a boat while drunk does not become lawful for that reason.
Do I have to wear a lifejacket in Sweden?
Transportstyrelsen states that everyone on board must have a CE-marked lifejacket in the correct size. Children and adults who cannot swim should wear a rescue vest.
Can the police stop me for a check?
Yes. The Coast Guard and the police may carry out random sobriety checks at sea in Swedish waters.
Sources
This guide is general information about the rules in Sweden as they stand today, not legal advice. Rules change, they differ between countries, and local regulations can be stricter. Always check what applies in the waters you are heading into.
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