News Japan suspends 1,507 driving licences for drunk cycling in 2025

A report released by the NPA on 13 March shows a sharp rise in licence suspensions linked to drunk cycling. In 2025, 1,507 people had their driving licences suspended for riding bicycles under the influence, up from 23 the previous year. The increase follows a revision to the Road Traffic Act that took effect in November 2024, introducing penalties for cycling while intoxicated. Police now assess such offenders as posing a broader traffic risk, including when driving cars, and can move to suspend licences on that basis.

Bicycle offences do not carry demerit points. Even so, the law allows prefectural public safety commissions to impose suspensions of up to 6 months if they find that a person is likely to pose a danger while operating a motor vehicle.

Under the revised law, cyclists, like motorists, face criminal penalties if their breath alcohol concentration measures 0.15 milligrams or more per liter. The penalties are the same as for motorists: up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 500,000 yen (about $3,100). Following the tougher legal stance, the NPA instructed police forces nationwide to actively impose license suspensions against cyclists found drinking and riding. By prefecture, Osaka had the most license suspensions in 2025 for cycling under the influence of alcohol at 502, followed by Tokyo with 254, Nara with 123, Nagano with 118 and Wakayama with 94. These five prefectures accounted for 70% of all cases. Thirteen prefectures reported no license suspensions for drinking and cycling, revealing wide regional disparities. The NPA explained that "police departments with more accumulated cases and experience in handling them are seeing higher numbers of punishments."

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Police are warning that cycling under the influence makes normal control difficult and increases the risk of accidents with pedestrians due to possible steering or braking errors. Starting this April, Japan will launch a new system allowing police to issue "blue tickets" -- for relatively minor offences -- and collect fines for bicycle violations not subject to criminal penalties. Police are urging cyclists to strictly obey traffic rules.