Alcohol facts
Your questions on new policy answered

Beer.

What is the purpose of alcohol testing?
The aim is to provide a safe workplace. It is about identifying those people who might have a problem with alcohol. It will provide them with an opportunity to receive suitable professional help to overcome their problems.

Why introduce alcohol testing now?
Community and government expectations require the ADF to be a professional, well-trained, well-equipped and fit fighting force. ADF members with dependent and problematic alcohol issues are hindering Defence’s ability to meet these expectations. Alcohol testing is about making people accountable for their actions and making people responsible for being able to carry out their duties in a safe manner.

What about drug testing?
Separate policy is being developed for introducing a drug test program in Air Force. Steroids are under consideration for testing as part of the drug test program.

Where can I be tested?
Only Air Force personnel in Safety Critical Areas (SCA), visiting a SCA or with a responsibility to perform a safety critical activity, are to be alcohol tested. Members not normally employed in a SCA might be tested when visiting such an area, for example the base rifle range.

Who decides what areas are safety critical in my unit?
Your unit commander.

Where can I find out what areas in my unit are safety critical?
These areas should be included in unit routine instructions every three months and it is your responsibility to be aware of them.

How often will I be tested?
DCAF sets alcohol testing targets in Air Force. Our people may be tested within DCAF’s guidelines many times within any given year or not at all. The probability of any one individual being tested will vary according to mustering, specialisation, employment profile, unit tasking, the time the member is in a SCA and the member’s previous testing history.

What is the alcohol limit?
Members are not to consume alcohol on duty, nor are they to commence a period of duty while influenced by alcohol or the effects of earlier alcohol consumption. However, for alcohol testing purposes an unacceptable blood alcohol level (BAL) for a positive test is 0.02% or greater. This level is consistent with the Australian testing standards.

Why isn’t it 0.05, the same for driving a car?
Defence is trying to eliminate, not manage, the effects of alcohol from the workplace by, in effect, having a “zero tolerance” policy and the specified BAL of 0.00 when driving Service vehicles. To set a limit of 0.05 goes against that intent of having an alcohol-free workplace. Civilian alcohol limits for driving a vehicle are a separate issue to alcohol limits and alcohol testing in the ADF.

Does this mean we cannot consume alcohol at unit functions and other Air Force social events?
Your unit commander has discretionary powers to permit alcohol consumption on duty in specific circumstances to allow for official entertainment, representational duties, social functions, and special events.

What if I refuse the test?
You cannot be forced to provide a breath sample for the purposes of an alcohol test. However, if you refuse a lawful request to provide a sample, you might be charged under s29 of the DFDA – Failure to Comply with a Lawful General Order.

Will I receive any form of alcohol awareness training?
Appropriate alcohol awareness training and education will be provided to all Air Force people. This training will provide members with knowledge of their rights and responsibilities with respect to alcohol testing. Members will be informed when and where training will take place through their chain of command. Additionally, under the new policy all members will be required to attend yearly alcohol awareness lectures.

When will alcohol testing start?
It started on November 30.

What happens if I test positive to alcohol?
You will be stood down from duty until your BAL returns to normal. You will not be subject to DFDA (disciplinary) action. Your unit commander will then determine what administrative action is appropriate given consideration of all circumstances surrounding the test. Options open to your unit commander include:

• interview by your supervisor,
• interview by your unit commander,
• interview by ADF Drug and Alcohol Program alcohol and other drug counsellors,
• interview by medical or other health professional, and
• arrangements for follow up testing if appropriate.

Why won’t I be charged if I test positive to alcohol?
The underlying legislation for alcohol testing in the ADF is the Occupational Health and Safety Act. This allows for alcohol testing to be conducted for safety purposes. Therefore, the policy provides for administrative action only. This may change in the future to meet the needs of the Service.

The introduction of the random and targeted alcohol testing program does not stop disciplinary action being taken against you in accordance with DFDA s37 – which relates to being drunk on duty – when detection occurs outside the Air Force or ADF alcohol test programs or when your behaviour warrants such a charge.

Why have targeted alcohol testing?
If an individual or group is subject to targeted testing it is likely to be for reasons of suspicion or because they have previously tested positive. The targeted testing will probably continue until your unit commander is satisfied the individual or group is no longer a safety risk in the workplace.

What sort of information will be kept?
All test results (both positive and negative) will be recorded on PMKeyS. This will enable statistical reporting to Government, CAF and DCAF to be made. Additionally, a record of attendance of alcohol awareness sessions will be kept on PMKeyS. All information will be handled in accordance with normal in-confidence material.

Where can I get more information on the Air Force’s alcohol policy?

• DI(G) PERS 15-4 – Alcohol Testing in the Australian Defence Force,
• DI(AF) PERS 4-14 – The Use and Abuse of Alcohol in the RAAF, and
• DI(AF) PERS 4-25 – Alcohol Testing in Air Force.

The information in this article has been provided by DGPERS-AF. The information is for policy guidance only and not an authority in itself. It is correct at the date of printing but will change over time as new regulations, directives and instructions are implemented.

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