Awards and citations:


1997: Le Prix du Champagne Lanson Noble Cuvée Award for investigations into Champagne for the Millennium investment scams

2001: Le Prix Champagne Lanson Ivory Award for investdrinks.org

2011: Vindic d'Or MMXI – 'Meilleur blog anti-1855'

2011: Robert M. Parker, Jnr: ‘This blogger...’:

2012: Born Digital Wine Awards: No Pay No Jay – best investigative wine story

2012: International Wine Challenge – Personality of the Year Award




Saturday 4 August 2012

Driving to France? – don't forget your alcohol test kit!

A dual kit alcohol test as approved by French government 


A quick reminder that if you are driving in France it is now obligatory to carry at least two unused alcohol test units or a machine. These testers need to be approved by the French government to satisify French police. This new law came into force on 1st July, although no fines for not carrying an alcohol test will be levied until 1st November. 

I'm not clear whether there is a requirement that the driver tests themselves after drinking and before taking the wheel. If this is the case then for some frequent purchases of alco-tests will be required to make sure one always has at least two unused in the car at any one time. What an bonanza for the makers! 

I bought the pack of two featured here today from Halfords for £5.99. I didn't inquire about buying a machine but the only one they had cost £59.99 and wasn't approved by the French government because it was set up to test to the UK legal limit which is 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, whereas in France it is 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.      




3 comments:

Jan-Tore Egge said...

Ridiculous. Do they sell these on all the broders, then?

Jim's Loire said...

Don't know JT. I assume they do in motorway service stations.

Driving in France said...

Hi Jim,

You've put together a great post here. I think it's worth noting - with the new driving laws in France, you'll need to carry a breath testing kit when traveling on French roads. Be sure to purchase one that displays the "NF" logo on the packaging to ensure that it's a model which complies with the new French driving laws.

Best wishes, Alex.