Alcohol-monitoring ankle bracelet introduced nationally
The Alcohol Monitor, an ankle bracelet that measures alcohol consumption via perspiration, is being launched nationally after a number of successful trials. Minister of Justice and Security Ferdinand Grapperhaus will prepare an amendment to the Dutch Criminal Code for this. The Alcohol Monitor has proven to be a reliable means of monitoring compliance with the alcohol ban and is therefore helpful in preventing alcohol abuse, alcohol-related crime and driving under the influence of alcohol. This is what was communicated by the Minister in a letter submitted to the House of Representatives today.
‘Many violent crimes are committed under the influence of alcohol, such as violence during a night out, during football matches or in a domestic setting. The Alcohol Monitor is an effective way to bring about behavioural change. This is why I would like to see this ankle bracelet used nationally.’
said Minister Grapperhaus.
An alcohol ban may be imposed as a special condition on offenders on probation. At present, compliance with this ban is monitored by the Probation Service on average twice a week via a breathalyser, blood or urine test. This merely provides a snapshot in time, which means that the alcohol ban may be violated in the intervening period. At the initiative of the Dutch Addiction Probation Service, the Public Prosecution Service and the Ministry of Justice and Security, the working of the Alcohol Monitor has been undergoing trials since 2017. This is an important initiative considering that the damage to society arising from alcohol abuse including the involvement of the police and the judiciary and the damage caused by road accidents – is estimated as being 2.3 to 4.2 billion euros per year. If the financial consequences for people due to a loss of quality of life and even premature death are additionally taken into account, the damage to society amounts to 6.1 billion euros.
Results
The wearers of this ankle bracelet have been generally positive about the influence of the Alcohol Monitor. For example, 74% of the wearers indicate that wearing the Alcohol Monitor has had a positive influence on their alcohol consumption and awareness of this problem. In addition, the Alcohol Monitor measurements show that 71% did not drink at all during the period when they were wearing it, despite the fact that some of them were allowed to do so. For all wearers taken together, no alcohol was measured on 92% of the days on which the Alcohol Monitor was worn. Moreover, the Alcohol Monitor appears to continue having a positive influence on the drinking behaviour of people even after it is removed. For example, 52% of the wearers indicate that they did not drink in the three months after removing the Alcohol Monitor.
Wearing the Alcohol Monitor also seems to have a positive influence on the delinquent behaviour of the wearers. Only 10% of the wearers of the Alcohol Monitor appeared in police records during the period when they were wearing the bracelet, compared to 51% of the control group that only underwent urine tests. This difference persisted three months after the removal of the Alcohol Monitor or after the period of the urine tests (17% versus 52%).
The biggest reported drawback of the Alcohol Monitor is its size and therefore the discomfort experienced when wearing it. According to the wearers, the Alcohol Monitor is too big and too stiff. Some reported itching, an irritated skin, or bruising. To resolve these issues, the supplier of the Alcohol Monitor will test out a new bracelet this year.
National rollout
The national implementation of the Alcohol Monitor ankle bracelet can start once the legislative process is complete. Saskia Capello, Director of the Dutch Addiction Probation Service:
‘We are happy with the results of the trials, this is a significant outcome. The Alcohol Monitor, in combination with probation supervision, contributes to a safer society. The pilot shows that wearers of an Alcohol Monitor commit significantly fewer crimes. Similar alcohol-monitoring ankle bracelets are already being used successfully abroad and this will also be introduced in the Netherlands now.’