A total of 100,000 breathalysers will be given out free to restaurants and night clubs in a bid to counter drink-driving, an activist group against alcohol abuse said yesterday.

Bunchuay Thongcharoenphool-phorn, secretary-general of the National Federation for Assisting State Authorities in Reducing Alcohol-Related Problems (FAA), said the devices for testing blood-alcohol levels will arrive from overseas manufacturers in the next three months.

The breathalysers will also be given out to insurance companies and a network of 65 universities, he said.

Speaking at a seminar, Bunchuay cited statistics showing that 99 per cent of drivers were willing to undergo breathalyser tests, and that the uncooperative 1 per cent comprised mostly politicians and senior government officials.

Bunchuay praised Justice Ministry permanent secretary Jaral Phakdeethanakul for his pledge to push through legal amendments to make alcohol checks easier to conduct for all parties involved, including the police and unwilling motorists.

He said the recipients of the free breathalysers could then help police in conducting alcohol tests under the new regulations. For example, insurance companies could give drivers in road accidents a breathalyser test to ensure that they have not violated the terms of the policy.

Out of about 100,000 motorists who had to undergo probationary measures and do public service after failing alcohol tests this year, less than 10 per cent passed the alcohol-related awareness programme and rehabilitation tests, Bunchuay said.

He said the FAA had been successful in convincing the business sector to cooperate in anti-alcohol campaigns, including voluntarily stopping selling alcohol in entertainment venues near schools and universities.

Bunchuay called for speedy payment of rewards to people who reported drunk driving to the police to encourage more good Samaritans. The current slow payment only discourages people who could do good for society, he added.

He said the FAA expected to see a greater use of breathalyser tests in future than the 2.5 million administered last year. Revellers at night-entertainment places will be required to take the test before they are allowed to drive home.

Bunchuay also called on all parties involved in tackling drink-driving to drop their egos in working on the campaign and not be discriminatory or prejudicial towards each other.