CBR alcohol and drug assessment: how the procedure works

The CBR alcohol and drug assessment is a mandatory examination of your fitness to drive, imposed after you've been stopped in traffic. It usually has four parts: a blood test, a physical examination, a psychiatric assessment and an interview. The psychiatrist sends a report within about 8 weeks, and the CBR then usually sends you the result within 4 weeks.

Below you'll read, step by step, how the procedure works, which blood values the lab looks at, and what you can do yourself in the meantime.

We've noticed the uncertainty often weighs heavier than the assessment itself. So we've set out the facts here plainly.

What is the CBR alcohol and drug assessment?

It's an examination of your fitness to drive that the CBR imposes after a police notification. The CBR wants to know whether alcohol or drug misuse may be involved. It isn't a punishment, but an assessment. The criminal side runs separately, through the Public Prosecution Service.

So after a single stop you can face two processes. The court looks at the offence, the CBR looks at your fitness to drive.

That distinction matters, because the outcomes are separate.

When does the CBR impose an assessment?

The CBR imposes one after a high blood-alcohol level or after repeated offences. According to the CBR, this applies among other cases when you're stopped with a level above 1.8 per mille, or when you've been stopped three times in five years with the level above 0.5 at least once. Drugs in traffic can also lead to an assessment.

For a novice driver the limits are lower. Stricter rules apply in the first five years after getting a licence, so an assessment comes into view sooner.

For drugs in traffic, the CBR looks at the type of situation and any earlier notifications. A positive saliva test at a roadside stop can already be a reason for a follow-up. Which substances are involved varies case by case.

The CBR judges each situation on its own.

Which measures can the CBR impose?

The fitness-to-drive assessment is the heaviest measure, but not the only one. In lighter situations the CBR can impose an educational measure, such as a course on alcohol and traffic. Which measure follows depends on the blood-alcohol level and your history. The CBR makes that choice, not the police or the court.

An educational measure costs time and money, but usually leaves your licence in place. A fitness-to-drive assessment can affect the validity of your licence.

If you work in a role where sobriety matters, an employer framework sometimes plays a part too. That's separate from the CBR. Read about it in workplace drug testing: what your employer may do.

How does the assessment work, step by step?

The assessment usually has four parts in one appointment. You give blood, a doctor does a physical examination, and a psychiatrist holds a conversation and an interview. The conversation with the psychiatrist takes about 35 to 45 minutes. The blood draw itself often takes no longer than five minutes.

The psychiatrist weighs all parts together. A single value doesn't give the whole picture.

Which blood values does the lab measure?

The lab mainly looks at CDT and gamma-GT. CDT stands for carbohydrate deficient transferrin, a protein in the blood that can rise with long-term, heavy alcohol use over several weeks. Gamma-GT is a liver enzyme that can rise with alcohol use, but also from other causes. Both values are indications, not conclusive proof.

In the guideline on fitness to drive and alcohol, described in the Richtlijnendatabase, these values are used as part of a broader judgement. So the CBR doesn't read them as a single score.

What an abnormal CDT value can mean, you'll read in CDT too high: causes of an abnormal value. The role of CDT for your licence is in CDT value and your driving licence.

If you'd like to know which alcohol markers exist, our overview showing alcohol with CDT, EtG and a blood test helps.

It's worth knowing that other factors can influence a CDT or gamma-GT value too, such as certain liver conditions or rare transferrin variants. A raised value doesn't automatically mean misuse. The doctor looks at the overall picture, not a single number.

What does the CBR assessment cost?

You pay for the assessment yourself. The costs usually run into the hundreds of euros and depend on the type of assessment and the examining body. The CBR charges for the process, and the examining doctor or psychiatrist may add further costs. Always check cbr.nl for current amounts.

The bill comes on top of any fine or penalty from the criminal case. That makes the financial side extra frustrating for many people.

What are the recidiveregeling and the recidiefvrije periode?

The recidiveregeling is a stricter measure for repeated or heavy alcohol use in traffic. After a second offence within five years, or a very high blood-alcohol level, your licence can be declared invalid. The CBR can then set a recidiefvrije periode of one year as a condition before you may reapply for a licence.

During that period you show you've been free of problematic alcohol use for a longer time. The blood values CDT and EtG play a part in this.

The full explanation is in recidiveregeling alcohol: what it means for your driving licence.

How long does it take and when do you get the result?

Expect several weeks to months. The psychiatrist usually sends the report to the CBR within about 8 weeks. The CBR then often sends you a letter with the result within 4 weeks. The laboratory results can take longer, sometimes up to about 12 weeks after the appointment.

That wait feels long for many people. An overview of the steps and possible outcomes is in CBR assessment result: how long it takes and what if you fail.

If a health declaration is part of your process, read health declaration for your driving licence.

What can you do yourself for peace of mind?

You can have your own alcohol markers checked, on your own schedule. A private test at Zuivertest gives you a quantified value that only you see. That can bring calm during a long procedure. It's a personal check and not a replacement for the official CBR assessment, and it doesn't predict the CBR's result.

We think you're entitled to insight into your own situation, without anyone else looking over your shoulder.

How to track your own CDT and EtG, you'll read in self-checking your CDT and EtG during the recidiefvrije periode. If you'd like one value measured specifically, you can use the alcohol CDT test.

Discuss your alcohol use and any worries with your GP too. Thuisarts.nl has clear information about alcohol and health, and your GP can help you decide whether further steps are needed.

Frequently asked questions about the CBR assessment

Can I refuse the CBR assessment?

If you don't cooperate with the imposed assessment, the CBR can declare your licence invalid. Cooperating is usually the only route to keep or regain your licence. If you have questions about your rights, you can seek legal advice.

Does a single heavy night already count?

The CBR mainly looks at a pattern, not one evening. The blood values CDT and gamma-GT say something about longer-term use. One night of drinking usually doesn't change those values much, though it can vary by person.

What happens if I fail the assessment?

If you're declared unfit, you won't have a valid licence for now. You may be able to object or reapply later after a recidiefvrije periode. What's possible in your situation is in CBR assessment result: how long it takes and what if you fail.

Sources

• CBR, "Investigation into your alcohol use" and "Recidiefvrije periode" (cbr.nl)
• Richtlijnendatabase, "Alcohol misuse in the context of fitness-to-drive examinations" (richtlijnendatabase.nl)
• RIVM, information about alcohol and health (rivm.nl)
• Thuisarts.nl, information about alcohol and the body (thuisarts.nl)

Every test result at Zuivertest includes a professional assessment from a BIG-registered doctor. For treatment decisions, discuss your results with your GP.