Alcohol misuse has contributed to several road deaths in Tonga. Now, new alcohol breathalyzer devices presented to Tonga Police in December will help frontline officers to detect and remove more drunk drivers and maintain safety on roads.

Police Commissioner Shane McLennan received the devices from Shelly Wallace of the World Health Organisation, on 2 December, at the Tonga Police Headquarters, Longolongo, under an Alcohol Control Support Program that Tonga Police, WHO, and MoH have jointly spearheaded over the past two years.

These breathalyzer devices are to support frontline police officers in enforcing relevant laws in place for alcohol misuse, which include targeting to detect and remove drink drivers as to maintain safety on roads.

WHO supported week-long training by Daniel Lewis, from the manufacturing company, Remote Control Global (Australia), on the use and maintenance of these devices, starting on 28 November.

Police Commissioner McLennan acknowledged the collective efforts between these organisations.

He also commended the participants, including police officers from the outer islands of Vava’u, Ha’apai and ‘Eua.

WHO

Ms. Wallace said that alcohol misuse had contributed to several road deaths in Tonga. She stressed the importance of having these breathalyzers to support Tonga Police’s efforts to address alcohol harm and related issues.

Dr. Pateli Patelisio from the Ministry of Health said MoH and WHO strive together to minimize alcohol consumption through proactive educational and awareness campaign measures, underpinned by the effective enforcement of the related laws by Tonga Police.

“The object is to minimize the social, economic, mental, and physical impacts of alcohol harm and abuse,” he said.

The donation was made through Tonga Police's collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the WHO.

Meanwhile, Tonga has recorded 12 road deaths so far this year, the last fatality being in November.