Alcohol Breathalysers, the company that owns www.breathalysers.co.za, works with many organisations, public and private to promote safer driving and healthy work environments. Alcohol Breathalysers attends road shows and takes part in other public conventions.

Alcohol Breathalysers Press Release - August 2010:

Demerit Point System will change the face of traffic law enforcement – and everyone better behave

The government may keep postponing the implementation of the demerit system, but the reality is that motorists are one day going to have to accept this system. Once the demerit system has been implemented, you can expect things to change drastically with traffic law enforcement. First, traffic fine dodgers will have nowhere to hide, and second, we might actually find that our roads will be much safer if international research is anything to go by.

The success of the Demerit Point System has been documented in countries such as Spain, where the system came into force in 2006. The percentage of casualties had decreased by 11% in the first two years of its implementation.

The new system could be an effective tool to curb dangerous behaviour such as driving under the influence of alcohol,” says Angus MacArthur, General Manager of Alcohol Breathalysers & www.breathalysers.co.za , the leading supplier of affordable re-usable breathalysers in South Africa. Drivers who get caught will receive up to twelve demerit points. “If you get 12 demerit points, your driver’s license will be suspended and if your license is suspended three times, it will be revoked. If the prospect of jail does not scare you in the least bit, consider having to re-apply for a driver’s license – with all the long queues and red tape,” says MacArthur.

The government might also consider a double-point demerit system for holiday seasons. This could be an effective road safety approach, as many lives are lost every year on the roads over the Easter and Christmas holidays. Again, this is an approach that proved a success in New South of Wales, Australia. In 1999, the regional government there trialed a doubling of demerit points for offences over a 45-day holiday period which included publicity about the penalty and enhanced enforcement. The result was a decrease of between 27% and 34% of fatal crashes, a decrease of between 27% and 30% in road deaths, and a general reduction in traffic infringements. As a result the New South of Wales authorities have since introduced double demerit points for many offences during busy holiday periods such as long weekends, Christmas, New Year and Easter.

What can motorists do to prevent being caught in the demerit system web? Well, for one, they need to be law-abiding citizens. While the demerit point system will penalise you if you do not abide by the rules, there will be incentives for those who do. For every three months a driver does not get penalised, they lose one demerit point.

There is no excuse for breaking the law. “There is no reason, for example, why you should be drinking and driving in the first place. There are alternatives – if you are drinking with friends, you should always ensure that there is at least one sober person who can drive you home. You can also leave your car at home and take a taxi.” says MacArthur. “The best alternative, however, is to not get drunk in the first place and use your own breathalyser to check your limit,” he concludes.

Ends

Alcohol Breathalysers Press Release - July 2010:

Breathalysers Campaign: the parent’s way to protecting loved ones

According to research, South Africa has one of the highest per capita alcohol consumption rates in the world, and it is estimated that up to 30% of general hospital admissions in South Africa are directly or indirectly related to alcohol use. Statistics show that alcohol is a leading contributor to road accidents, and more and more underage teenagers are abusing alcohol. The abuse of alcohol has reached a critical stage in this country and we need to go back to basics to encourage responsible drinking. It starts in the family.

Alcohol Breathalysers CC, the industry leader in affordable alcohol breathalysers, has launched an alcohol safety campaign that encourages parents to equip family members with personal breathalysers in much the same way that cellphones have become a rite of passage for children who reach a certain age. By providing breathalysers, parents are telling their children that even though they are consuming alcohol, they should be responsible and limit their intake. They are also protecting them from the dangers of drunken driving.

Alcohol Breathalysers has made breathalysers accessible to the general public, so parents will not have difficulty in sourcing quality breathalysers that are both convenient and easy to use. The AT118 key ring model and the AT128 personal digital are inexpensive, easy to operate and the safety benefits are immeasurable. Recognising that most personal breathalysers are used in a social setting, the breathalysers were built with style in mind. They are sleek and small enough to fit in the palm of a hand or slip into a purse, pocket, or glove compartment. Within seconds of blowing into a unit, the breathalyser indicates one’s blood alcohol concentration so you instantly know when it’s time to stop drinking and when not to drive.

Parents can have peace of mind when their children are out with friends, because they know that their children will make responsible choices. Giving a young adult a portable breathalyser helps to ease peer pressure of getting into a car with someone they suspect to be over the legal limit. The instant breath alcohol test can deter teen drunk driving and stop a child from being a passenger in a car where the driver is drunk.

Adults will find that the breathalyser makes their lives easier. Adults socialising out on the town or entertaining at home can use the breathalyser to ensure guests either leave sober or spend the night. A portable breathalyser can also ease a homeowner’s liability concerns during a home party by providing just cause for no longer serving alcohol to someone who is drunk. People using breathalysers can also be confident that they are doing their part to protect lives.

If you want to get a personal breathalyser, industrial breathalyser, fixed type breathalyser, wall mounted breathalyser for a bar or pub, please visit www.breathalysers.co.za or contact us directly.

Ends

Alcohol Breathalysers Press Release - June 2010:

Breathalysers Campaign encourages responsible drinking during the World Cup

For many fans, sport and alcohol go very well together. Nothing unifies people more than sharing a beer at the pub while watching your favourite football or rugby team give the opposition a good beating. The drunken revelry may be fun, but many fans tend to forget that they still need to hit the road and are often over the alcohol limit, so they should not be driving.

Alcohol Breathalysers CC encourages responsible drinking and has therefore launched a campaign to crack down on binge drinking, especially during our 2010 World Cup, where the excitement of the tournament will lead many fans to go overboard when drinking.

Alcohol Breathalysers is an owner-run company that sells quality imported breathalysers to the corporates and individuals at an affordable price. The campaign is part of its effort to encourage responsible drinking among South Africans.

“We love our sport and we love our drinks,” says Angus MacArthur, General Manager. “But South Africans need to ensure that they don’t overdo it, and if they do overdo it, they need to make the responsible decision and get someone else to take them home.”

Breathalysers have traditionally been reserved for those convicted of high blood alcohol content (BAC) levels or multiple drunk-driving offences. Alcohol Breathalysers has filled a gap in the market by ensuring they are now accessible to the general public. Breathalyser models such as the AT118 key ring, the AT128 personal digital breathalyser and the AL-2500 are convenient and easy to use, and can be stored easily in your bag or car. These models are also ideal for club or pub owners who would like to ensure that their patrons get home safely.

“Our alcohol-related road death statistics are proof that South Africans need to be more responsible with their alcohol intake. Drunk driving is preventable if drivers are aware of their blood alcohol content before they get behind their wheels. Knowing your limit is simple if you have a breathalyser,” continues MacArthur.

If you want to get yourself a personal breathalyser visit www.breathalysers.co.za and place your order.

Ends

Alcohol Breathalysers Press Release - 24 March 2010:

Take a breather before you hit the road this coming Easter

Drunken driving is one of the biggest causes of accidents on South African roads. According to Arrive Alive, research indicates that 50% of people who die on the roads have a blood alcohol concentration above 0,05g/100ml. And with the Easter holidays just around the corner, the focus will once again be on road safety and drinking and driving.

Last December, in launching the Arrive Alive campaign for the festive season, Minister of Transport Sbu Ndebele endorsed the use of disposable breathalysers by motorists to keep their levels in check. The importance of this endorsement will be highlighted once again as South Africans take to the road to spend the Easter holidays with family.

With this in mind, www.breathalysers.co.za, a local company will distribute breathalysers to selected outlets throughout the country for sale to the public. “This is our contribution to assist the Government in its Arrive Alive campaign,” says Angus MacArthur, General Manager of www.breathalysers.co.za.

Two types of testers will be for sale – the AT118 key ring model and the AT128 digital breathalyser. They will be available at selected CNA Stores countrywide and directly from www.breathalysers.co.za

“South Africa has one of highest alcohol consumption levels in the world. And despite government’s efforts to change drinking and driving attitudes, alcohol-related accidents continue to be a regular feature on our roads. We want to help turn our road users into responsible citizens,” MacArthur says.

The legal blood alcohol limit in South Africa is 0,05g/100ml of blood. According to Health24, a person weighing 70kg would reach this limit by consuming two glasses of wine or two tots of spirits or two cans of beers. But this can vary from person to person. For example, a woman who weighs 45kg would be slightly over the legal limit for driving after only one glass of wine.

“Apart from the fact that driving while over the alcohol legal limit is a crime, alcohol slows down your reaction time and distorts your vision, making you the ideal candidate for an accident. Being in such a situation is not only irresponsible, it is short-sighted as you will be endangering your own life,” MacArthur says.

“It is better to not drink at all if you are going to be driving, but if you are going to drink, then our reusable breathalysers will give you the chance to check your alcohol level before you drive. By doing that, you would be saving dozens of lives, including your own. The breathalyser testers are cheap, easy to use, and easy to obtain, so there is no excuse to be drunk on the road,” he says.

www.breathalysers.co.za is committed to road safety, and will continue to work with many organisations, private and public, to promote safe driving. “We believe everyone has a role to play to ensure that our roads are safe, and we constantly look for ways to help reduce deaths on the road.”

Ends

Alcohol Breathalysers Press Release - 18 March 2010:

We need to work together to make our roads safer

It has often been said that most of South Africa’s roads are a death trap. One cannot deny that the quality of roads, particularly in Johannesburg with all its potholes, has deteriorated. But, according to Arrive Alive, an international study concluded that human error was the sole cause in 57% of all accidents, and was a contributing factor in over 90%.

At the recent road safety summit hosted by the Department of Transport, the departmental minister highlighted the critical situation of Africa’s roads, saying that Africa has the highest road death rate per population in the world – 32.2 people per 100 000 population are killed in road crashes. Africa’s road deaths were currently over 200 000 a year and were predicted to rise by at least 80% by 2020. He said that by 2015, road crashes would be the number one killer of children aged 5-14 in Africa, outstripping Malaria and HIV/AIDS. Road crashes were estimated to cost African countries between 1-3% of their Gross National Product (GNP).

Closer to home, the statistics do offer some hope, however little. The Road Traffic Management Corporation reported in January that road death figures for December 2009 were 21% down compared with the same period the previous year. However, 1050 fatalities are still too many deaths and as the department has pointed out, road safety is everyone’s responsibility, so South Africans have to play their part.

Angus MacArthur, General Manager of www.breathalysers.co.za , says that private companies partnering with the Government to educate the public about road safety, South African roads will be much safer. “It is not just about drinking and driving. Other factors such as negligent driving and driving unroadworthy vehicles are also a problem on our roads. “We need to work together to create a safer environment. It cannot be the work of the Government alone,” he says.

“The Easter holidays are just around the corner and this period, like the December festive period, often pushes to the fore the dire situation on our roads. It has become common knowledge that the minute people begin their trips to the coast and other holiday spots, lives will be lost,” he says.

“This is the ideal time to intensify efforts to highlight and reinforce the message that our roads are for all of us and we need to take responsibility for our own and each other’s well beings.

“Despite calls by the Government, through the Arrive Alive campaign, to be careful on the roads, many people still ignore the rules and choose to disrespect each other. We need to help change that perception.

“We at Breathalysers.co.za support the Government’s efforts to reduce the deaths on the road and as such, are always looking to provide products that will help promote road safety,” he says.

One of the products that the company provides are reusable personal breath alcohol testing devices, which are available at selected CNA Stores countrywide and directly online from www.breathalysers.co.za . There are two different entry level versions of the breathalysers - the AT118 Key Ring model and the AT128 personal digital breathalyser. Products higher up the range are suitable for use in businesses.

“Our products are in support of the government’s Arrive Alive campaign. Despite all the publicity generated against drunk driving in the past few years by the government, alcohol-related accidents continue to be a major cause of death,” MacArthur says.

“We need to arm our communities to effectively reduce the already too high drunk driving rate in the country, especially during the holiday seasons. This will be the first step towards eliminating this serious problem”.

Ends

Alcohol Breathalysers Installs Coin Operated Breathalyser Machines

Alcohol Breathalysers installs Coin operated breathalyser machines in clubs, pubs, bars and entertainment venues on a revenue sharing basis.

For more information Contact Alcohol Breathalysers