Netherlands parliament supports electronic alcohol monitoring for offenders

A majority of the Dutch parliament, the Tweede Kamer, supports the introduction of an ‘alcoholmeter’ to monitor individuals convicted of alcohol-related crimes. The device is an electronic ankle bracelet designed for those under court-ordered alcohol bans, such as offenders involved in traffic accidents or domestic violence.

The device works by detecting alcohol levels in skin moisture and sweat. If alcohol is detected, probation services receive a notification to contact the individual. If consumption is confirmed and not caused by external factors like cleaning products, a warning is issued.

Pilot tests indicated higher effectiveness compared to traditional methods; only 10% of participants wearing the device committed offenses during the monitoring period, compared to 51% of those subject to urine testing. These positive effects reportedly persisted for three months after the device was removed.

Each device costs approximately 1,500 euros, a cost that users must cover if the device is lost or damaged. Refusing to wear the device or attempting to remove it will be treated as a refusal to comply with a court-ordered sentence.