Anger at sale of ‘legal’ pill to beat the breath test

The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) has expressed its disappointment that a new pill being sold online in the UK will mean people drink-driving over the limit will not be detected if they are stopped and tested by police.

The Indian-produced pill, called Alcopal, helps drivers pass the breath test and is already banned in the US. However, it is now being sold in the UK by a businessman who says it is useful for motorists “on the borderline” of the drink-drive limit.

Arthur Kibble, who is selling the tablets, said: “I am not advocating that motorists get blind drunk and then try to drive, but it does help you mentally. They are useful for those people who have two pints and are then banned for 12 months.

“What about bus drivers and taxi drivers who want to have a pint before work? Everyone does it, there’s a car park in every pub you go to. If you consume a lot of alcohol nothing is going to help, but this can help if you’re on the borderline.”

Mr Kibble claimed the pills could reduce the breath test reading to around 4mg per 100ml – the legal limit for driving is 35mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. But he added that the tablets would not improve the driving performance of a motorist who was over the drink-drive limit.

Alcopal effectively reduces and prevents the absorbtion of alcohol from the inner lining of the stomach and intestine into the blood stream.

However, ACPO said any attempts to use the pill to disguise an offence will not be tolerated.

Deputy Chief Constable Suzette Davenport, ACPO lead on roads policing, said: “It is disappointing to see some people are still not getting the message that drink and drug-driving can kill. Trying to disguise the level of alcohol in your system will not be tolerated. If police suspect you are over the limit there are other tests which can be carried out and officers will not hesitate to use them.

“People also need to realise the impact of taking any substance which could leave you over the limit for longer. Drink and drug-driving not only destroys the victim’s life, but also the lives of their family and friends who have to live with the loss or injury of a loved one. For the offenders, it can lead to a lengthy driving ban and possible loss of jobs and livelihoods with some even facing imprisonment.”

Campaign groups and charities working to prevent harm caused by drink-driving have criticised the sale of the pills describing it as “dangerous and stupid”.

Kevin Clinton, from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, said: “It may encourage people to drink and drive in the belief they can get away with it. Drinking and driving kills hundreds of people every year in the UK and we would urge people to ignore this product and those selling it to stop doing so immediately.”

The national road safety charity Brake said the decision to sell the pills was “disgraceful”.

Sarah Fatica, general manager, said: “It is disgraceful that Alcopal can be legally sold in the UK. Drinking any amount of alcohol can affect your ability to drive safely and the consequences of doing so can be devastating.

“To advocate using this pill so you can have a drink and then drive is dangerous, irresponsible and demonstrates a complete lack of regard for life. We urge consumers not to use this pill and to never get behind the wheel if they have had a drink, even one.”

Figures just released by the Department for Transport show that fatalities resulting from drink and drive accidents increased by 12 per cent from 250 in 2010 to 280 in 2011 – the first increase in over a decade – and seriously injured casualties rose by three per cent from 1,250 to 1,290.