14 CFR 107.27 and 91.17

Alcohol, drugs and drone flying

Part 107 applies the manned-aircraft alcohol and drug rules to drone crews. Here are the limits, what refusing a test costs, the exam traps and practice questions, with the FAA source under each answer.

Part 107, explained · Last reviewed October 25, 2026 against the eCFR and faa.gov. UAV Campus is not affiliated with the FAA.

How long after drinking can you fly a drone under Part 107?

At least 8 hours after any alcoholic beverage, and never while under the influence of alcohol, with an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or greater, or while using any drug that affects your faculties in any way contrary to safety. These 14 CFR 91.17 rules apply to the remote pilot, the person on the controls and visual observers.

Sources: 14 CFR 107.27 · 14 CFR 91.17(a)

What the regulation says

§ 107.27 Alcohol or drugs.

A person manipulating the flight controls of a small unmanned aircraft system or acting as a remote pilot in command or visual observer must comply with the provisions of §§ 91.17 and 91.19 of this chapter.

§ 107.59 Refusal to submit to an alcohol test or to furnish test results.

A refusal to submit to a test to indicate the percentage by weight of alcohol in the blood, when requested by a law enforcement officer in accordance with § 91.17(c) of this chapter, or a refusal to furnish or authorize the release of the test results requested by the Administrator in accordance with § 91.17(c) or (d) of this chapter, is grounds for:

(a) Denial of an application for a remote pilot certificate with a small UAS rating for a period of up to 1 year after the date of that refusal; or

Read all of § 107.59

(b) Suspension or revocation of a remote pilot certificate with a small UAS rating.

14 CFR 91.17(a) Alcohol or drugs

(a) No person may act or attempt to act as a crewmember of a civil aircraft— (1) Within 8 hours after the consumption of any alcoholic beverage; (2) While under the influence of alcohol; (3) While using any drug that affects the person's faculties in any way contrary to safety; or (4) While having an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or greater in a blood or breath specimen.

Sources: 14 CFR 107.27 (eCFR, current as of 2026-10-21) · 14 CFR 107.59 (eCFR, current as of 2026-10-21) · 14 CFR 91.17(a) Alcohol or drugs

Exam traps

  • 8 hours is a minimum, not a guarantee: you also may not fly while still under the influence.
  • The limit is an alcohol concentration of 0.04 in a blood or breath specimen.
  • The rule covers visual observers too, not only the remote pilot.
  • Refusing a law enforcement officer's alcohol test under 91.17(c) has its own penalty in 107.59.

Try it: practice questions

Similar to the FAA test, not the actual test questions.

Practice question 1

A person may not act as a crewmember of a civil aircraft if alcoholic beverages have been consumed by that person within the preceding

  1. A 12 hours.
  2. B 8 hours.
  3. C 24 hours.
Show the answer
Answer: B. 8 hours.

(According to 14 CFR 107.27(a) No person may act or attempt to act as a crewmember of a civil aircraft within 8 hours after the consumption of any alcoholic beverage.)

FAA source: 14 CFR 91.17(a)(1)

Practice question 2

No person may attempt to act as a crewmember of a civil aircraft with

  1. A .04 percent by weight or more alcohol in the blood.
  2. B .004 percent by weight or more alcohol in the blood.
  3. C .008 percent by weight or more alcohol in the blood.
Show the answer
Answer: A. .04 percent by weight or more alcohol in the blood.

(According to 14 CFR 107.27(a)(4) No person may act or attempt to act as a crewmember of a civil aircraft while having an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or greater in a blood or breath specimen. Alcohol concentration means grams of alcohol per deciliter of blood or grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath.)

FAA source: 14 CFR 91.17(a)(4)

Practice question 3

The consequences of refusing to submit to an alcohol test or to furnish test results are

  1. A Denial of an application for a period of up to 1 year or suspension/revocation of a remote pilot certificate.
  2. B Up to 1 year in jail.
  3. C A fine up to $10,000.
Show the answer
Answer: A. Denial of an application for a period of up to 1 year or suspension/revocation of a remote pilot certificate.

(According to 107.59, refusing to submit to a test or to furnish test results is grounds for: (a) Denial of an application for a period of up to 1 year; (b) Suspension or revocation of a remote pilot certificate.)

FAA source: 14 CFR 107.59

What happens if you refuse an alcohol test?

Refusing a test requested by a law enforcement officer under 91.17(c), or refusing to furnish or release results the FAA requests, is grounds for denying a remote pilot certificate application for up to 1 year, or for suspending or revoking your certificate.

Source: 14 CFR 107.59

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