Norway's former research minister Sandra Borch has confessed to driving under the influence on two separate occasions last year, detailing a blood alcohol level more than three times the legal limit in one instance. In a statement, the 37-year-old former Centre Party politician wrote she deeply regretted her actions, which she linked to a previously disclosed struggle with alcohol.
A Minister's Admission and Fall from Grace
Sandra Borch stated that she was caught driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.64 per mille when stopped in Balsfjord. On a second occasion, near her home in Tromsø, her blood alcohol level was 1.56 per mille. Norway's legal limit is 0.20 per mille for drivers of standard passenger vehicles. 'As I have previously been open about, I have over time had an alcohol problem,' Borch wrote. 'It has created a demanding situation for me and my family. In October last year I did something I deeply regret. On two occasions I drove a car under the influence.'
Borch confirmed she has been formally charged for both offenses. She added she was ready to accept her punishment. This confession adds a serious legal dimension to a personal and political downfall that began over a year ago. Borch first publicly revealed she had an alcohol problem in December 2023, stating she had chosen to check herself into an institution for treatment. 'I choose to be open. I have an alcohol problem, which I need help with,' she wrote at the time.
From Government Office to Legal Trouble
The drunk driving incidents occurred after Borch's resignation from the cabinet but while she was still serving as a member of parliament for Troms. Borch had been a Member of Parliament for the Centre Party since 2017. Her political career reached its peak when she served as Minister of Agriculture and Food from 2021 to 2023. She was then appointed Minister of Research and Higher Education in August 2023. Her tenure in that role was brief, lasting only a few months.
Borch resigned as a minister in January 2024 following the discovery of plagiarism in her decade-old master's thesis in jurisprudence. The scandal, which involved unattributed sources in her academic work, forced her immediate exit from the government. She remained in the Storting as a representative until the autumn 2025 general election, where she lost her parliamentary seat. The sequence of events paints a picture of a rapid political decline, moving from a cabinet position to electoral loss and now facing criminal charges within a two-year period.
The Legal Consequences Awaiting
Driving with a blood alcohol level above 0.50 per mille in Norway typically results in an unconditional driving ban and often a prison sentence, with the severity increasing with the recorded level. Borch's second reading of 1.56 per mille is considered a high level under Norwegian law. The judicial process will now determine the specific penalties, which can include substantial fines, license revocation, and incarceration. Borch has stated she has confessed to the acts, which may be factored into the legal proceedings.
In her latest statement, Borch indicated her personal struggles are ongoing. 'I am continuing to work on the problems I have and am getting help from the healthcare service,' she wrote. She also asked for privacy to deal with her situation. 'I ask for peace so that I can get through the problems I am facing.' Her statement does not specify whether she is still receiving institutional care, but confirms she remains engaged with the health system for her alcohol problem.
A Personal Crisis in the Public Eye
The case highlights the intense scrutiny faced by public figures when personal crises become public. Borch's decision to be open about her alcohol problem last December was a rare admission of vulnerability from a serving Norwegian politician. That disclosure framed her struggles as a health issue. The new confession that this problem led to illegal actions, specifically endangering public safety by driving while intoxicated, shifts the narrative from a private health battle to one with clear public and legal ramifications.
Her political career, which once involved shaping national policy on research and higher education, is now overshadowed by these serious charges. The timeline shows the drunk driving episodes happened in October 2023, after her plagiarism was known internally but before it became public and before her ministerial resignation. This places the incidents during a period of significant professional pressure for the politician.
The Path Forward from Here
For Sandra Borch, the immediate future involves navigating the Norwegian legal system. The court will decide her sentence for the drunk driving charges. Beyond the courtroom, her statements suggest a continued focus on recovery. Her political future, however, appears severely compromised. Having lost her parliamentary seat and now facing criminal conviction, a return to high-level politics seems unlikely in the near term.
The case serves as a stark reminder of how quickly a political career can unravel through a combination of personal missteps and professional failings. From the heights of government ministry to facing the prospect of a criminal record, Borch's story is one of dramatic decline. Her final sentence in her statement, a request for peace to deal with her problems, underscores the deeply personal nature of a story that has played out entirely on Norway's public stage. The question now is whether she can find that peace while accepting the legal and societal consequences of her actions.