DISPOSABLE breath test kits have been wrapped and delivered to hotels in North Wales as part of a campaign to prevent drink-drive related incidents over Christmas.

With the party season now upon us North Wales Police has partnered with a number of hotels to distribute the ‘indication only’ kits to guests who want to check their alcohol levels the morning after a night of drinking.

It forms part of the force’s annual Christmas Anti Drink and Drug Drive Campaign in which officers use intelligence-led tactics and local knowledge of hotspot areas for drink and drug-driving during the festive period.

Temporary chief inspector Dave Cust, of the Roads Policing Unit, said the kits have had “overwhelming positive response” in the past.

“Due to the positive feedback the force has previously received regarding these kits, we decided to take a new approach by distributing to local hotels in areas where we usually see an increase in the amount of drink drive arrests. Many of the hotels we have approached are hosting special party nights so staying guests will be able to test themselves the morning after.

“We are not in any way encouraging people to drink and then breath-test themselves immediately. These kits are specifically for use the morning after as they will give an indication if any alcohol is detected in their system.”

The Drivesafe Express disposable breath test kits give an indication of high alcohol levels but do not guarantee the user is under legal alcohol limit. A change of colour on the test kit indicates the presence of alcohol, warning that there may be sufficient levels of alcohol to cause their arrest if stopped.

The month-long campaign will also feature officers from the force’s Roads Policing Unit using social media to give their own accounts of what it is like to deal with the aftermath of a collision involving a drink or drug driver.

Chief superintendent Neill Anderson said: “Having to tell someone their loved one has been killed because a driver made the selfish decision to get behind the wheel when under the influence is the worst part of the job.

“There are no words to describe the devastation caused by drink and drug driving and that is why we are so passionate about what we do.”