“Staggering around” but not breathalysed: student experience of breathalysers

By Emily Doughty

The introduction of breathalysers has been met with mixed results with many students reporting to not being breathalysed on nights out in Fresher’s week. 

The scheme, which was brought in ahead of freshers’ week, was designed to keep people safe and stop the culture of pre-loading on drinks before going out. This was done to allow drinkers a better chance to make informed decisions while on their night out and to reduce violent crime.  Breathalysers were given to several venues in the City and operate on a light system based on how much a person should consume for “sociable drink(ing)”. 

However, many students have said that breathalysers were barely used throughout freshers’ week and beyond, with most students continuing to pre-drink before going out to bars and clubs without being breathalysed. One student who spoke to Palatinate said that they “hadn’t heard of anyone having to do it and haven’t seen it happen”, with another saying that their visibly drunk friend was allowed in, even when they believed they shouldn’t have.

Two freps, students who attended club nights sober to support incoming students, also reported that there was disparity in who was getting breathalysed among the few cases. One frep reported to Palatinate that despite three people all “staggering around”, only one got breathalysed (and denied entry) even though they were all the same level of drunk visually.

“hadn’t heard of anyone having to do it (breathalysed) and haven’t seen it happen”

Student speaking to palatinate

The constabulary have previously said that the devices are a guide, and it was up to individual door staff to decide who to perform the checks on. 

When contacted Durham City Neighbourhood Inspector Dave Clarke told Palatinate that the breathalysers were “just one tool that door staff have to judge whether people are too intoxicated to come in”

He went on to say that the team “spoke at length about the use of the devices as they were being distributed.  Door staff are highly trained and it is their decision who to allow entry. We also spoke about how to ensure anyone who is turned away is safeguarded – which will be further supported by the use of the dedicated welfare staff.

“Breathalysing everyone would be too time consuming, they take a pragmatic view and would use them as an additional objective measure of intoxication. (Breathalyers are a) part of a much larger scheme and only time will tell. It’s certainly been one of the safest and most enjoyable Fresher’s weeks we have seen…so all things being considered I’d call it a success!”

Inspector Clarke also commented on the view that breathalysers weren’t being widely used: “Interestingly, I have personally been spoken to by two sets of people over the week who were angry as they had been refused entry to bars and believed that they were set ‘too low’, so they must be getting used somewhere!

“(Breathalysers) are just one tool that door staff have”

inspector dave clarke, durham city neighbourhood

“I think door staff should have the right to turn anyone away who they believe is too intoxicated to be in their premises.”

Breathalysers are part of the bigger “safer streets’ ‘ project which includes increasing street lighting in areas of concern, identifiable welfare officers and a Safety Hub based at St Nic’s Church.  The Hub was designed to be a safe space for people feeling unwell, vulnerable or a victim of crime to get the relevant support. 

Durham Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen said: “This initiative is a welcome addition to our night-time economy and a step in the right direction for keeping our revellers safe. I hope that we will be able to follow the example of other areas who have introduced the breathalysers, in reducing violence crime incidences on our streets.

“When used appropriately this scheme will ensure that whilst the public can enjoy an evening out, they also don’t exceed a safe limit of alcohol consumption leading them to put their own health, safety and that of the public in danger. As part of my plan, the safer streets fund has allowed us to implement the night-time safety hub along with the breathalyser initiative, additional lighting and CCTV across the city centre.

“We have already seen successes from the safety hub and we will proceed in the hope that our other additions can make further strides in improving our city centres for all in the community.”

Image: Thomas Tomlinson