Personal Breathalysers
Discussion
I posted this on GG but haven't had many replies so I hope noone minds me cross posting this, maybe some of the BiB on here might be able to help.
post on GG said:
Before I go on I want to make it clear that I never even have a half if I am driving, the way I drive I need to be 100%
However I worry about driving the day after a large one and will arrange to get a lift into work but I am unsure how I am likely to be at the end of the day.
Have any of you any experiences with personal breathalysers? Are they accurate? On eBay there are models available from £7.50 through to about £100.
Someone even suggested it might be possible to buy the police spec one on eBay but I can't find any.
Cheers everyone and Happy Christmas
mcflurry said:
It takes approx 1 hour per unit (half a lager, glass of wine, malibu and pineapple etc)
IMHO as an adult you should be able to make a pretty good guess by the end of your shift if you are ok or not..
Yes but a good guess is not good enough is it??? How would that stand up in court - "As an Adult I made a pretty good guess that I was under the limit your honour."
Does no one on hear have any sensible comments on personal breathalysers? How about some of BIBs?
Even that's a bit of a "cop" out, pardon the pun.
I agree with zero alcohol on a night out when designated driver, but the morning after, if you've had a few the night before, is it sensible even if you "feel" ok, to adopt a self-breath test to be "sure"?
Is it a responsible attitude to adopt or just a waste of time as they are not accurate devices?
>> Edited by anniesdad on Wednesday 15th December 12:11
I agree with zero alcohol on a night out when designated driver, but the morning after, if you've had a few the night before, is it sensible even if you "feel" ok, to adopt a self-breath test to be "sure"?
Is it a responsible attitude to adopt or just a waste of time as they are not accurate devices?
>> Edited by anniesdad on Wednesday 15th December 12:11
we've done it before, but never mine.
If you're looking for zero alcohol, multiply the pints you've drunk by 2, call them hours, and add them to the time you started your first pint.
SO, start dirnking at 7pm, have 8 pints.
thats 7pm + 8 x 2 hours (16 hours) = 11am the next day.
if you abide by that rule, you should be (not 'definately will be'!!) ok to drive.
I say that as the legal limit is NOT zero, but 35mg/ml breath, whic is about 2 1/3 pints and different people have different metabolic rates, absorption etc.
So, if you're out at 7pm and you're wanting to drive at 8am the next day, then you can probably have 6 1/2 pints and be OK.
If you're looking for zero alcohol, multiply the pints you've drunk by 2, call them hours, and add them to the time you started your first pint.
SO, start dirnking at 7pm, have 8 pints.
thats 7pm + 8 x 2 hours (16 hours) = 11am the next day.
if you abide by that rule, you should be (not 'definately will be'!!) ok to drive.
I say that as the legal limit is NOT zero, but 35mg/ml breath, whic is about 2 1/3 pints and different people have different metabolic rates, absorption etc.
So, if you're out at 7pm and you're wanting to drive at 8am the next day, then you can probably have 6 1/2 pints and be OK.
anniesdad said:
Is it a responsible attitude to adopt or just a waste of time as they are not accurate devices?
The problems would be that (a) ones from t'internet wouldn't be "type approved", potentially rendering them inaccurate, and therefore inadmissible, and (b) even if you did use one, it would still potentially be inadmissible if you got done.
SOAPBOX OUT.
People always make the same assumption about the 1 pint per two hours rule. It's bollex. That 'rule' was invented in the early 1980s when Harp was a 'strong' lager. The premium stuff that most of us neck these days does not conform to that rule.
However.
The rule involves alcohol in the bloodstream, not breath which is what the babylon use as a test. I have a breathalyser and found it invaluable to learn how alcohol does, and doesn't stay on your breath.
I personally don't 'directly' drink and drive, but on occasion I've driven after a big night before. Sleep, food and non-alcoholic drinks have a fascinating affect on the breath measurement.
I'm not going to go any further as I think it's a bit dubious to give advice on such matters. What I would say is buy one, you won't regret it. I never use it anymore, but I've learnt how my morning feeling relates to alcohol on my breath, and whether I should be driving or not.
People always make the same assumption about the 1 pint per two hours rule. It's bollex. That 'rule' was invented in the early 1980s when Harp was a 'strong' lager. The premium stuff that most of us neck these days does not conform to that rule.
However.
The rule involves alcohol in the bloodstream, not breath which is what the babylon use as a test. I have a breathalyser and found it invaluable to learn how alcohol does, and doesn't stay on your breath.
I personally don't 'directly' drink and drive, but on occasion I've driven after a big night before. Sleep, food and non-alcoholic drinks have a fascinating affect on the breath measurement.
I'm not going to go any further as I think it's a bit dubious to give advice on such matters. What I would say is buy one, you won't regret it. I never use it anymore, but I've learnt how my morning feeling relates to alcohol on my breath, and whether I should be driving or not.
simonharrod911 said:
However.
The rule involves alcohol in the bloodstream, not breath which is what the babylon use as a test.
Er, the alcohol in your blood has a direct, proportional correlation to the amount of alcohol in your breath - Henry's law.
"the babylon" - pmsl. Why don't you go the whole hog, and call us Bamba Claat as well?
There isnt a direct correlation between alco in blood and alco in breath.
It depends whats in the way
If the aveolae in the lung are coated with tar for example the evaporation rate accross the lungs is less than someone who's not got tar coated lungs.
It is however the best reasonable guage.
It depends whats in the way
If the aveolae in the lung are coated with tar for example the evaporation rate accross the lungs is less than someone who's not got tar coated lungs.
It is however the best reasonable guage.
Dibble said:
Is it a responsible attitude to adopt or just a waste of time as they are not accurate devices?
The problems would be that (a) ones from t'internet wouldn't be "type approved", potentially rendering them inaccurate, and therefore inadmissible, and (b) even if you did use one, it would still potentially be inadmissible if you got done.
Agreed it would be inadmissable, the point here is;
If you got the best available, thereby being potentially the most accurate, is it advisory as a morning after check?
or
Is it a waste of time?
It would be OK if you erred on the side of caution.
The problem would be if you tested yourself, it showed OK, then you got stopped and checked with a "real" one by the BiB.
You'd be a bit stuck at Court trying to say "I used mine, and I was OK to drive".
Perhaps not the answer you were looking for I know, but the only simple, surefire, soundbite answer is not to get there in the first place.
I realise that people are asking more for "morning after" issues, but it's just not that easy to give a definitive answer. The same person can drink the same amount on two occasions, and give a different reading on each.
The problem would be if you tested yourself, it showed OK, then you got stopped and checked with a "real" one by the BiB.
You'd be a bit stuck at Court trying to say "I used mine, and I was OK to drive".
Perhaps not the answer you were looking for I know, but the only simple, surefire, soundbite answer is not to get there in the first place.
I realise that people are asking more for "morning after" issues, but it's just not that easy to give a definitive answer. The same person can drink the same amount on two occasions, and give a different reading on each.
Agreed that without some form of reasonably accurate guide it's very, very hard to gauge in the morning whether you're over or under the limit. The way you "feel" simply isn't good enough, we probably all agree. I'm just not sure what the answer is, if these breathalysers are simply not accurate enough.
Is there a "Which" test available?
Is there a "Which" test available?
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