A viral video of a ‘Dancing Cowboy’ completing a field sobriety test is certainly a hilarious look at the way that many areas of the United States still conduct alcohol testing. However, it also provides a serious message about the only way to identify if someone is truly under the influence of alcohol.
The video, which many people think is real, is however from an early 2000s TV show called Reno 911. It was a show that provided a parody of law enforcement documentary shows that used comic actors playing the police officers.
The specific video, also known as Drunk Cowboy, is a scene in which the character Deputy Clementine Johnson conducts a traffic stop, encountering a gifted drunk cowboy dancer who humorously performs the “walk and turn test”. You can view the video on this page or on YouTube.
Field sobriety tests and particularly walk and turn tests are still commonly used in the United States to determine if someone may be under the influence. Perhaps surprising, considering the reliable and accurate breathalysers that are available these days (such as the Drager Alcotest 6000). Where else but the US!
It should be noted that these tests are not a definitive assessment, nor are they utilised that way by law enforcement officers in the US. Instead, they are used to create probable cause, after which police can take drivers who are suspected of being under the influence back to a station for more thorough alcohol testing.
Workplace alcohol testing the only way
If the walk and turn test isn’t a definitive way to tell if someone is under the influence of alcohol, what is? If you’re trying to identify who may be inebriated in your business there is only one way and that’s workplace alcohol testing.
There could be many reasons why someone appears to fail a walk and turn test. There could be many reasons why someone looks tired, has bloodshot eyes, has more days off work than others or is involved in more accidents and incidents.
Yes, they could be under the influence of alcohol – or drugs – but there could be a myriad of other reasons. Which is why, alcohol testing, using reliable and accurate breathalysers, is the only way to tell if someone is definitely under the influence.
Accuracy in workplace alcohol testing is vital
There’s a key point that you might have picked up on in the above paragraph and that’s the role of reliable and accurate breathalysers in workplace alcohol testing.
It's crucial to acknowledge that not all breathalysers are created equal. Some cheaper personal breathalysers provide an estimate of blood alcohol level but that’s about all. Their reliability and accuracy are questionable and for workplace alcohol testing, these cheaper alternatives should never be used.
In stark contrast, reputable workplace alcohol testing providers (and police forces around the world – except maybe the US!) use what is known as fuel cell breathalysers. Renowned for their precision, fuel cell breathalysers far surpass the accuracy of their cheaper counterparts.
Through an exclusive partnership with Dräger, Integrity Sampling employs their cutting-edge breathalysers for all workplace alcohol testing. The Alcotest 6000, a professional-grade breathalyser, is specifically employed to ensure that workplace alcohol testing is not only efficient and convenient but, most importantly, highly accurate.
It’s also essential to recognise that no breathalyser can claim 100% accuracy. Therefore, supplementary testing and in-depth analysis remain imperative in determining whether an individual exceeds the blood alcohol limit.
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Are field sobriety tests a good way to conduct alcohol testing? Unless you’re creating a funny viral video – or perhaps live in the US – the answer is no. Credit North Dakota Transportation https://shorturl.at/etCPR
