Alcohol tags track thousands of offenders over New Year in England, Wales

Around 5,000 people released from prison or serving community sentences are currently wearing the tags, according to a statement by the UK government on Tuesday.

The aim is to keep offenders sober during a time traditionally associated with higher levels of alcohol use and to reduce drink-related reoffending.

The technology operates continuously, 24 hours a day. If alcohol is detected, an alert is automatically sent to a probation officer, who can take action ranging from ordering the offender back to court to returning them to prison.

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said in a statement: “Alcohol-driven crime causes real harm to victims and communities, and piles extra pressure on our emergency services. Tackling it head-on is vital to make our streets safer.

“These tags act as a physical and constant reminder to offenders that there’s no room for slip-ups – one drink and they could find themselves back in court or even behind bars.”

According to government evidence, offenders who are banned from drinking alcohol remain sober on 97% of the days they are tagged.

Officials say the tags are sophisticated enough to tell the difference between foods containing small amounts of alcohol—such as mince pies—and alcoholic drinks that could cause intoxication.

Separate research has also highlighted the potential impact of electronic monitoring more broadly.

A study published in August found that thieves and burglars who were fitted with GPS tracking tags as part of a pilot scheme were about 20% less likely to reoffend.

Similar reductions were recorded among offenders wearing curfew tags that restrict them to their homes during certain hours.