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Starting on Jan.
1, slightly tipsy volunteer firefighters and off-duty members of
so-called professional "blue light" organizations responding to
urgent situations will be no longer face punishment - provided
their blood-alcohol level does not exceed 0.50 percent, the
limit governing other drivers.
"This change is necessary as rescue and disaster relief
organizations today are increasingly dependent on people who are
not on duty or on call," the Swiss Federal Roads Office said in
a statement on Wednesday. "The government is addressing the need
for the best-possible recruitment of personnel in the event they
are needed for unexpected rescue operations."
The current ban on alcohol caps volunteer emergency service
workers' blood-alcohol level at 0.10 percent.
Peter Wullschleger, a Zurich emergency services commander, said
the drinking ban remains in force for all firefighters who are
on duty or on call and can reckon with being dispatched to an
emergency.
Easing the restriction for those who are not is primarily aimed
at small communities with no professional firefighters that must
rely on volunteers to be ready at a moment's notice.
"With the ban, theoretically it would have been impossible for
somebody enjoying even a nice glass of red wine during the
Christmas holidays to fulfill their duty in the event of an
emergency," Wullschleger said.
Wednesday's announcement represents the latest Swiss tinkering
with laws on alcohol and occupational safety.
Last October, the Alpine republic closed a legal loophole that
enabled cable car drivers to escape criminal prosecution if
caught drunk on the job.
(Reporting by John Miller; editing by Mark Heinrich)
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