Alcohol Testing

The current blood alcohol concentration limit for participants during DLRA events is 0.010. Further, the consumption of alcohol in the paddock, pits, event headquarters or any section of a competition venue which is under the control of the Officials is strictly forbidden until all practice and/or competition has concluded for each day of the event.

Any participant who breaches these rules or who refuses to submit to testing shall, at a minimum, be excluded from the day of the event.

Breath alcohol testing has been carried out at DLRA events since the early 2010. This service is carried out by DLRA Authorized Testing Officials (DATO) at Speed Week and other DLRA events. In December 2016, the DLRA Alcohol Policy was implemented to strengthen the existing testing measures by streamlining the process for organizing and conducting testing at all levels.

Any competitor, official or pit / service crew member may be subjected to breath alcohol testing by a DATO. The testing process is quick and easy and is almost identical to that which most people would have experienced in police roadside breath testing. DATOs can carry out testing at any time of the day is also common from a deterrence perspective in particular. The breathalysers used by DATOs are calibrated every twelve months in accordance with Australian Standard 3547 – Breath Alcohol Devices for Personal Use.

A detailed procedure can be downloaded by selecting the relevant link in the table below, but in brief the breath alcohol testing process works as follows:

• Selection and notification of test is performed by the DATO.
• The participant provides an initial breath sample known as the ‘screening’ test.
• If the screening test reading is negative (i.e. 0.010 or below) there is no further action required.
• If the screening test reading is positive (i.e. above 0.010) the participant must be isolated and observed by a chaperon until a second breath sample can be provided.
• A second breath sample, known as the confirmation test, must be provided by the participant no sooner than 15 and no later than 20 minutes after the screening test. If the confirmation test reading is negative there is no further action required.
• If the confirmation test reading is positive the participant must be excluded (by the Stewards) from that day of the event.

Event organisers are encouraged to engage a DATO for their next event by contacting the Sport and Club Development Officer in their state. In addition to requests received, DLRA will select events at which DATOs will be deployed and, in doing so, will work closely with the organiser to make the necessary arrangements to ensure testing is carried out without impacting the running of the event.

For further information about the DLRA Alcohol Policy, please contact the DLRA Integrity Officer at integrity@dlra.org.au or 0490 488 100. Please follow the relevant links below to download a copy of the current policy, procedure and other useful documents.

1. DLRA Alcohol Policy [PDF]
2. DLRA Breath Alcohol Testing: Standard Operating Procedure [PDF]
3. DLRA Breath Alcohol Testing Log Sheet (for DATO use only) [PDF]
4. DLRA Procedural Flowchart [PDF]
5. DLRA Report for Race Director [PDF]