The UK Is Using Ankle Tags to Keep 7,300 Offenders From Drinking Alcohol During World Cup

England flags decorate Kirby Estate in London, ahead of England’s first World Cup soccer match against Croatia on June 17. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Thousands of offenders across England and Wales will be required to wear alcohol-monitoring ankle tags during the 2026 FIFA World Cup as authorities seek to reduce alcohol-fueled violence and disorder associated with major sporting events.

According to the U.K. government, about 7,300 offenders who are either serving community sentences or have been released from prison will be fitted with electronic tags capable of detecting alcohol consumption through sweat analysis. The devices alert probation officers when alcohol is consumed, even if the wearer is not otherwise under direct supervision.

Officials said about 5,000 offenders were already wearing the tags when the World Cup began, with another 2,300 expected to receive them during the tournament.

The move comes as police forces and local authorities prepare for increased crowds and heightened alcohol consumption tied to World Cup viewing events. England’s opening match generated a significant boost for pubs and bars, with on-trade bookings reportedly rising 293% compared to normal levels.

The government said the tags are sophisticated enough to distinguish between someone consuming alcohol and someone merely spending time in a location where alcohol is present, such as a pub or restaurant.

Wearers are not prohibited from visiting bars, restaurants, or other licensed venues, but they can be sanctioned if they consume alcohol in violation of court-ordered restrictions.

“Major sporting events should be a time for the country to come together and enjoy the game, not for alcohol-fueled violence and disorder to ruin the occasion,” Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending Minister Lord Timpson said in a statement. “Having this tech fixed around the ankle is the wake-up call to offenders and leaves them with the sobering thought that one slip-up could send them to jail.”

The government said offenders subject to alcohol abstinence requirements have remained sober for 97% of monitored days since the technology was first introduced in 2020.

Officials also pointed to the societal costs associated with excessive alcohol consumption. The UK’s National Audit Office estimates alcohol-related harm costs the country about £21 billion ($27.7 billion) annually.

The World Cup initiative is part of a wider expansion of electronic monitoring programs across England and Wales. The government plans to fit tens of thousands more offenders with alcohol-monitoring devices over the next three years and is introducing a policy that will presume prison leavers should be electronically tagged as part of intensive supervision following release.