French Breathalyser "prizes"

I am more than disppointed to find the club giving away "prizes" of French breathalysers as if the law in France still regarded them as a compulsory motoring accessory. I have repeatedly pointed out that UK retailers are profiteering from the sale of these things at inflated prices when they are available much more cheaply in French supermarkets. But then, they would be, because the truth is that the French gendarmes regard them as irrelevant and although it is difficult to pin anyone down on wther they are or are not obligatory what is clear is that there is no penalty for not having them on board. I live in France and drive almost daily. My circle of friends includes a retired Gendarme and the local head of the Police Road Safety team. If any club member has been asked to show a gendarme a breathalyser this year I would love to know because, frankly, it would make a good news story. What I don't want to hear is that people are misled into spending over a fiver for something that is unnecessary, impractical and useless.  Better to spread the word that drinking and driving is stupid in any country and to remind everyone that what interests French gendarmes at the moment is speeding to any degree (!!!) and failing to stop at stop lines. They WILL fine you on the spot! They may even confiscate your outfit. Recently they seized a GB Bentley for excess speed. But failing to have a breathalyser on board? I don't think so!