Objective: To examine the accuracy of coin-operated breath analysers installed in licensed premises in the Perth metropolitan area.
Method: Two hundred licensed premises were contacted, which resulted in the location of 36 wall-mounted, coin-operated breath analysers. One instrument was removed prior to testing. These premises were then visited and the accuracy of the instruments was tested in situ using National Association of Testing Authorities Australia (NATA) certified 0.080% and 0.100% ethanol in nitrogen gas.
Results: The instruments were installed in the licensed premises as follows: 15 in the lounge bar, 10 in the main entrance, six in the public bar, two in the passageway to the toilets, and one in the male toilets. One licensed premise provided a handheld breath instrument. All instruments were accompanied by warning and operating instructions, but only five had any educational material. Only seven of the licensed premises had staff who had received any training in the operation of the wall-mounted instruments. Half of the licensees were unaware of the servicing requirements of the instruments. The testing found that only nine (25%) of the instruments provided acceptable results.
Conclusion: The low level of accuracy of coin-operated breath analysers in the Perth metropolitan area is alarming and users should be informed of the potential inaccuracies. This paper, however, does not rule out that some wall-mounted breath analysing instruments may provide accurate results when properly maintained.