Spain driving warning: you can be fined for drinking water at the wheel – here’s when it happens

It sounds surprising, but in Spain you can actually be fined for drinking water while driving – not because it’s banned, but because it can be treated as a distraction. The DGT The law states that even if you don’t think it is illegal, a fine may be imposed if drinking alcohol affects the way you drive or how attentively your eyes are on the road.

This is one of the small details that can catch you by surprise for many tourists and residents in Spain. This seems like a common practice, especially during long drives and in hot weather. But on Spanish roads, it’s all about how safe you are driving at the moment.

The Spanish law on drinking and driving

In Spain, there is no law that says you cannot drink water while driving. The Spanish traffic code does not explicitly prohibit drinking water while driving.

Spanish law, however, focuses more on something general: the driver must be always in complete control of his vehicle and focused on driving.

There are several articles in the Reglamento General de Circulación Please make it clear. Drivers have to:

• maintain proper attention
• Keep full control of your car
• Enjoy freedom of movement, and have clear visibility

Drinking water in principle is fine, but if it violates any of these conditions it could result in a fine.

That’s why the same action can be fine in one situation – and penalised in another.

How much can the fine be in reality?

There isn’t a fixed fine labelled ‘drinking water while driving’. Penalties are determined by how an officer interprets the situation.

It’s often treated as a minor diversion:

• around €80, with no points deducted
• reduced to €40 if paid early

If the officer believes your attention was affected more seriously – for example, if you looked away from the road or lost control briefly – the fine can increase:

And if the situation is considered dangerous – for instance, if drinking water leads to a risky manoeuvre or contributes to an incident – the penalty can go higher:

• up to €200, depending on the severity

The amount is tied not to the act but to distraction level and risk.

What are the most common situations that drivers find themselves in?

Most fines are not the result of a quick drink.

When your drinking habits affect how you drive, they tend to occur.

As an example:

• Opening a Bottle While Driving
• Use both hands on the wheel, instead of one.
• Look down, not at the road
• Making sudden or awkward movements

In these cases, the issue isn’t hydration – it’s loss of control or reduced attention, even if only for a few seconds.

It is enough to consider it negligent driving.

Why DGT still encourages drinking water

Irony is the word of choice here.

DGT advises drivers to drink plenty of water, especially during long trips or hot weather. Dehydration can cause fatigue, headaches and slower reactions – all of which can affect driving.

Dehydration has been linked to increased driving errors in some studies, similar to that of mild alcohol impairment.

Drinking water is not a problem.
It is important to know when and how to do something.

What all road users in Spain need to know

It is not always easy to notice the differences in road signs and markings when driving on Spanish roads.

Many countries don’t question drinking water behind the wheel. In Spain it is part of a wider rule: any distraction can lead to a fine.

That means even small habits – like reaching for a bottle or taking your eyes off the road for a moment – can be enough to trigger a fine if an officer considers it unsafe.

The best way to avoid danger is to keep it simple.

• Keep your beverage within easy reach
• Open bottles before driving
• If it is more than just a quick move, you should wait until you have stopped.

On longer journeys, the DGT recommends taking a break every couple of hours anyway – which gives you time to drink properly without any risk.

The smallest detail can make a big difference

In many cases, drivers will not have any problems drinking water.

The focus on Spanish roads is always your driving at that particular moment. There’s rarely a problem if everything is in order. Even a simple drink can be viewed differently if you don’t have everything under control.

It’s one of those rules that doesn’t sound strict on paper – but in practice, it depends entirely on how it plays out on the road.