Dutch Parliament Majority Backs Introduction of Alcohol Monitoring Bracelets for Convicts

Legislators in the Tweede Kamer have voted in favor of introducing an alcoholmeter, an ankle-worn sensor that detects alcohol through skin and sweat, for individuals convicted of crimes involving alcohol and placed under a judicial alcohol ban. The system notifies the re-offending service whenever the wearer consumes alcohol, prompting a follow-up warning if the intake is confirmed. Earlier pilots allowed offenders to opt for the bracelet instead of undergoing urine or blood testing, and police statistics indicate that those wearing the bracelet committed fewer new crimes after the device was removed.

Non-compliance with the court-mandated bracelet is considered a breach of the sentence, and the device carries a price tag of roughly €1,500, with users liable for loss or damage. Unlike GPS-tracking ankle bracelets, the alcoholmeter does not provide location data.