Accident data has identified alcohol as a factor in almost a quarter of the deaths on Victorian roads in the past five years.
This harrowing TAC statistic is one Des Malcolm hopes to change. His Tullamarine-based business manufactures machines that read a person’s blood-alcohol content, and he hopes eventually to have one in every licensed venue in the nation.
“When a blood-alcohol concentration limit of 0.05 was introduced in Victoria, nobody knew what 0.05 was,” Mr Malcolm said.
“Coming from a hotel background, I thought there was a need to help the public comply with the law. How do you determine how much is too much? It’s difficult. The consumption of alcohol is quite a complex science.”
Mr Malcolm started his business, named Breathometer after the machines he designed, about 30 years ago and has since had one installed in almost 400 licensed venues in Victoria and another 100 around the rest of the nation.
He says he’s committed to saving lives and recently offered to install a machine free-of-charge in every Eastern District Football League club. As well, he spoke last week at a drug and alcohol forum at Tullamarine Football Club about the technology’s effectiveness.
The wall-mounted units require users to blow 1.3 litres of air into them to read the mix of alcohol and oxygen. Mr Malcolm said the results were as accurate as blood tests.
The company is preparing for a significant hike in demand. Come August 1, strict new drink-driving laws come into effect. First-time drink-driving offenders registering higher than 0.1 will have their car impounded, their licence cancelled for 10 months, and will face a fine of more than $600, plus towing costs.
