Alcohol

From the initial analysis of a blood or urine sample through to the presentation of scientific reports to Court, Bericon is one of the few organisations in the UK that provides a complete range of alcohol-related services.

The determination of the alcohol content of a sample is often the starting point of an investigation that may lead to an assessment of an individual's alcohol consumption. We are able to offer testing services for the analysis of blood or urine samples and provide certificates within 5 working days of sample submission.

We have over 20 years experience in alcohol-related cases and are also able to offer expert reports on:

  • Laced or spiked drinks cases
  • The consumption of alcohol after driving (so-called post-incident consumption or "hip flask" defences)
  • Calculations relating to drunk in charge cases where data is required to show when an individual would have been under the statutory limit to drive
  • The possible effects of medication that an individual has taken

Alongside this, Bericon is able to comment on the functioning and performance of roadside or portable and evidential breath testing instruments (Intoxilyzer, Intoximeter and Camic devices) and assess a person's lung function or spirometry test results in light of their failure to satisfy the requirements of breath alcohol devices.

In addition, any report will include the assessment of the procedures adopted by the Police when completing the above types of test, in particular those undertaken as part of the MGDD/A, MGDD/B and MGDD/D forms, which can often be critical in a client's case.