The tags — worn by 5,000 people who have been released from jail or are serving a community sentence — have kept them sober over the festive season and reduced drink-fuelled reoffending.

UK justice secretary David Lammy said: “Alcohol-driven crime causes real harm to victims and communities, and piles extra pressure on our emergency services. Tackling it head-on is vital to make our streets safer.

“These tags act as a physical and constant reminder to offenders that there’s no room for slip-ups — one drink and they could find themselves back in court or even behind bars.”

The tags operate 24 hours a day, relaying an alcohol alert to a probation officer who can then take action such as ordering the person to return to court or to prison.

The tags are capable of distinguishing between foods that contain low levels of alcohol, including mince pies, and drinks that could lead to offenders becoming inebriated.

The National Audit Office estimates that alcohol-fuelled crime drains the UK economy by £21 billion a year.

Evidence has indicated that the tags have been effective since they were launched in 2021, with offenders who have been identified as having a problem with alcohol staying sober for 97 per cent of the days they were tagged. Some offenders even felt the tags helped improve their lifestyle.