Effectively Prevent Alcohol and Drug Consumption in Recreational Hunting
Recreational hunting is often practiced as a leisure activity with a social framework. However, where firearms are used, there must be no place for alcohol or other intoxicating substances. What is required is a contemporary, clear safety regime in the hunting laws of the cantons.
1. Motion
The Government Council is tasked with submitting to the Grand Council a proposal to amend the Law on Hunting and Wildlife Protection (………) as well as the Hunting Ordinance (……….) to effectively prevent the consumption of alcohol and other psychoactive substances during the practice of recreational hunting in the canton (………). The legal revision must particularly ensure that
- a clear zero-tolerance regulation for alcohol and illegal drugs during hunting practice and in an appropriate period before hunting begins is introduced, at least in accordance with the limit values and concepts of driving incapacity recognized in road traffic law,
- carrying and bearing firearms in the context of hunting practice under the influence of alcohol, narcotics or other psychotropic substances is expressly prohibited,
- hunting supervisors, hunting societies and lease holders are obligated to implement binding safety concepts that provide for the exclusion of alcohol or drug-impaired persons from hunting,
- the competent authorities (game wardens, police) are empowered to conduct controls in case of suspected impairment, particularly breath alcohol tests and standardized drug screenings,
- violations of alcohol and drug provisions in hunting law are considered serious breaches of hunting law obligations and lead to effective sanctions, particularly
- temporary or permanent revocation of hunting rights and hunting licenses,
- Hunting and weapons ban in severe cases,
- appropriate fines or imprisonment according to the severity of the endangerment,
- the mandatory reporting obligation for incidents and suspected cases is strengthened, such as
- mandatory reporting obligation for hunt leaders, hunting lease holders and fellow hunters to the competent authority,
- protection of whistleblowers from reprisals,
- accidents and dangerous situations in connection with alcohol or drug consumption during hunting are systematically recorded and evaluated,
- the government council explains in the message,
- which gaps exist in the current cantonal regulation compared to road traffic, shooting sports and other weapon-relevant areas,
- how many hunting accidents and near-accidents have been documented in the canton (………) in recent years and what role alcohol or other substances presumably played in them,
- what impact the proposed regulation has on hunting organization, training, controls and enforcement,
- what financial and organizational consequences are to be expected for canton and municipalities.
The government council considers the necessary transitional provisions in its proposal, particularly with regard to ongoing hunting lease contracts, existing hunting societies and the adaptation of hunting training courses.
2. Brief justification
Today it is common practice in many hunting societies that recreational hunting is combined with social events. Alcoholic beverages are still considered part of the supposed tradition by some hunters. This stands in stark contradiction to the high safety requirements that must apply when handling firearms. Anyone carrying a loaded rifle in the forest bears responsibility for the lives of people and animals in their surroundings.
Clear and strict rules regarding alcohol and drug consumption have long existed in road traffic. Also in the police force, professional shooting sports or security services, impairment by alcohol or other psychoactive substances and carrying weapons are incompatible. For recreational hunting, where shooting regularly occurs near residential areas, agricultural land, paths and recreational spaces, there is often only inadequate or no explicit regulation at all.
Where live ammunition and living targets come together, there must be no grey area for alcohol and drugs. A wobbly shot doesn't just hit deer, foxes or wild boar, it also endangers people, dogs and other animals.
Alcohol and drugs impair reaction ability, judgment, vision and coordination. They increase the danger of missed shots, follow-up shots and injuries, lead to poor decisions in stressful situations and intensify risky behavior. This affects not only those directly involved in hunting, but also uninvolved third parties. Informed walkers, families with children, riders, cyclists and their animals often move in the same areas where hobby hunters shoot.
From an animal welfare perspective, alcohol- or drug-induced missed shots worsen the suffering of wild animals. Non-fatal hits lead to prolonged death struggles or weeks of pain. This contradicts both the Animal Welfare Act and the often-invoked principle of so-called fair chase.
Despite these risks, the topics of alcohol and drugs are often only rudimentarily regulated in cantonal hunting laws or are delegated to non-binding codes of conduct by hunting associations. Voluntary self-commitments have proven insufficient when it comes to effectively limiting risks with high endangerment potential. Where human lives, public safety and animal welfare are concerned, clear, enforceable legal norms are needed.
With this motion, the government council is tasked with adapting the hunting legislation of canton (………) to today's safety and animal welfare requirements. A clear zero-tolerance regulation for alcohol and drugs in recreational hunting, combined with control and sanction possibilities, brings
- more safety for the population, livestock and other forest visitors,
- more animal welfare through reduction of missed shots and tracking cases,
- more legal clarity for hunting societies, authorities and courts,
- an alignment of standards in handling weapons with comparable areas such as traffic and professional weapon carriers.
Thus canton (………) strengthens the credibility of its hunting and wildlife protection law and sets a clear signal that the recreational interests of a minority are not placed above safety and animal welfare.