Would you trust the results of an over-the-counter blood alcohol test?

Neil Mitchell found a 0.05 test kit at his local chemist at a cost of $10. 

He questioned Inspector Martin Boorman from the road policing unit if it was a reliable indication of blood alcohol content.

‘They are a very similar device police used to use back in the 70s,’ he said.

‘It’s an indication, no more than that.

‘I wouldn’t bet my licence on it. The only safe way is to separate the drinking behaviour from the driver behaviour.’

Last week, Victoria’s new top road cop Doug Fryer revealed drug buses had a ‘one in 44 strike rate’ which was significantly higher than alcohol affected drivers picked up by police.

Inspector Boorman said it was disturbing.

‘Proportionally it is a concern,’ he said.

‘It is a national problem, it is a change in activity, the normalisation of illicit drug use in people’s socialisation,’ he said.

Audio: Road policing unit Inspector Martin Boorman