Anne Terry is shopping for a trip to France over half term.
"Right, I think I have all the usual stuff," she says. "First aid supplies, various medicines and sun cream for us and the kids. Was there anything else?
"Oh yes, I know what I meant to ask: do you sell breathalysers? Apparently you need them to drive in France now. Seems ridiculous as we don't even drink alcohol, but I think you can be fined if you get pulled over and don't have one. I thought the pharmacy might be the place to get one."
Does Anne need a breathalyser for her holiday?
A couple of years ago, in a bid to reduce drink driving, the French government announced that all drivers and motorcyclists would need to carry breathalysers. On-the-spot fines were to be brought in for any vehicle found to be on the road without such a device on board. However, supply problems with the breathalysers approved for this purpose have put the plans on hold. Although fines are not levied if drivers do not have a breathalyser in their vehicle, it is still recommended that they should be carried if possible.
From where are breathalysers available?
Many drivers opt to buy these devices at ferry and tunnel terminals before crossing the Channel between England and France, or from car accessory retailers such as Halfords. Hire cars that are picked up in France may be supplied with a breathalyser on board, much as reflective jackets (or panels for motorcycles) and warning triangles usually are, in order to comply with current regulations, but drivers should check with their car hire company before picking up their car so they are not left without. Some pharmacies have started selling breathalysers as a natural extension of their diagnostics and testing offering. These are primarily aimed at people who drink alcohol in the evening and want to check whether they are over the limit for driving the next morning, although motoring organisations advise against using such devices on the grounds that someone who has doubts about their ability to drive should not be getting behind the wheel in the first place. It is worth noting that the UK and French drink driving limits are different (80 and 50mg per 100ml of blood respectively), and that the breathalysers sold for use in each country will be calibrated accordingly.
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