On 30 December 2025 the Ministry of Justice announced that about 4,800 offenders, either released from prison or serving community sentences, will wear alcohol‑detection tags during the Christmas and New Year period. The tags monitor sweat 24 hours a day, instantly flagging any alcohol consumption and alerting the offender’s probation officer. An offence can trigger a court order or a return to prison. The technology can distinguish between low‑alcohol foods such as mince pies and alcoholic drinks. The government said the tags have achieved 97 % sobriety on the days they were worn. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy highlighted the role of the tags in cutting alcohol‑related crime. Police and crime commissioners noted that similar tagging programmes have cut re‑offending by about 20 %. The scheme will expand as the probation budget rises by up to £700 million by 2028.
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Original source: https://www.gov.uk/
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/festive-booze-ban-for-record-number-of-offenders-on-tags
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