BREATHALYSERS ARE BEING handed out at gigs and events across Ireland this summer so people can check for themselves if they are over the alcohol limit before getting behind the wheel of a car. 

The devices are being put near the gates at concerts, festivals and sporting events by the Road Safety Authority, in a bid to highlight the risk of drink-driving. 

The figures so far this summer have been stark: of 5,830 tests at concerts in Dublin, 43% have been above the legal driving limit. 

“We felt it was important for us to get out and to go to where people are,” David Martin of the RSA told The Journal. 

“People are saying, ‘oh my God, I thought I was okay, I only had one drink’, or whatever amount they had. A lot of people, particularly males, seem to overestimate their ability to consume alcohol and remain capable of driving a vehicle.”

The RSA has found that people who find themselves to be over the limit generally take some time to sober up before hitting the road. 

“We are finding that people are actually taking time out to say, ‘okay, crikey, I’m going to go away and have a few coffees now and I’m going to wait some time before I get behind the wheel’,” Martin said. 

A pilot rolled out last year found that 45% of people tested thought they were under the legal limit but were found to exceed it, which is broadly in line with the figures so far this summer. 

Around 24,000 tests were conducted last year, and the RSA hopes to reach more this summer.

The breathalysers will be available over the summer at concerts at Malahide Castle and Marlay Park in Dublin.

They will also be provided at the Galway Races, Dublin Horse Show, and the National Ploughing Championships, as well as three festivals: Kaleidoscope, All Together Now, and Electric Picnic.

The RSA has estimated that one third of fatal road accidents involve individuals who are over the legal limit.

The legal limit for drink-driving is in Ireland is 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, which is equivalent to around one standard drink. The limit is lower for learner, novice, and commercial drivers. 

Drivers can be disqualified from driving for up to six years, receive a large fine, or spend time in prison if they are caught drink-driving.

It is also a legal requirement to provide a breath sample if asked by authorities.

183 people were killed on Irish roads in 2025, the highest number of deaths on Irish roads in a decade. To date, 88 people have died on the roads this year. 

The RSA plans to review the program after the last event of the summer, but hopes that it will be rolled out next year.

“I think a lot of the people who do come to take it [a breathalyser test] are probably thinking in a responsible way. They do want to check,” said Martin.

“Perhaps it’s the people not taking it that need to have that conversation.”