A BREATHLYSER has been installed at St. Eunan’s GAA club in the hopes of reducing drink driving on Irish roads.
The Flinebox breathalyser programme is an initiative of Road Safety Authority Ireland supported by An Garda Siochana.
The scheme is meant as both an educational and preventative measure.
The Flinebox device has a touch electronic screen with a straw to blow into so that patrons can check their alcohol levels on site quickly and easily.
The device uses the same reliable sensor found in law enforcement breathalysers.
The RSA took to social media to share the update with their followers.
They wrote on Facebook: “A Fline Box breathalyser is now in place at St. Eunan’s Camp Grounds, O’Donnell Park, Letterkenny.
“If you’re in Letterkenny this weekend, swing by and give it a try!
“It’s a quick and easy way to check your alcohol levels. Drive safe.“
And the free device is now available all weekends at the GAA club.
New data from the RSA has revealed a worrying trend as nearly half of people who tested their alcohol levels at Flinebox breathalyser kiosks mistakenly believed they were under the legal limit.
The findings come from an RSA pilot programme, which trialled Flinebox breathalyser kiosks at hospitality locations and events across Ireland over six months.
The initiative aims to give people real-time feedback on their alcohol levels, helping them make informed decisions before getting behind the wheel.
During the six-month pilot, over 24,000 breathalyser tests and surveys were conducted.
It said that 45 per cent of people who tested over the legal limit mistakenly believed they were fit to drive.
And 77 per cent of those who mistakenly believed they were under the limit had said they were going to drive.
The data also highlighted that young men aged 18-34 were most likely to underestimate their alcohol levels and say they were going to drive.
Sarah O’Connor, Director of Partnerships and External Affairs at the RSA, said: “We are urging drivers not to rely on guesswork when it comes to alcohol and driving.
“This data shows that many people wrongly assume they’re under the limit when they’re not – putting themselves and others at serious risk.
‘EDUCATION MEASURE’
“We introduced the breathalyser kiosks as an education measure to help drivers get a clear, scientific measure of their alcohol levels.
“The pilot made it clear that people struggled to understand their own level of impairment.”
She continued: “But the real message is simple: if you have a drink, don’t drive.
“The safest option is to plan ahead, arrange alternative transport, and never take a chance behind the wheel.
“This data is a stark reminder that our perception of how alcohol affects us is often flawed. Never ever drink and drive.”
The RSA pilot programme ran from August 2024 to February 2025, with Flinebox kiosks placed in hotels, bars, and event venues across Mayo, Galway, Cork, Limerick, Laois, and Westmeath.
