Breath testers

[SMOKEU]

I've seen all sorts of alcohol breath testers for sale, most of which are cheap toys that fit on a key chain and serve no real purpose, but then there are others going for $200+ which you send back to the manufacturer every 6-12 months to get recalibrated. Are these more expensive ones fairly accurate, or do you need to spend close to $1000 for a decent one?

[98tls]

Cheaper just to buy a bottle of Tequila and drink it fella,once you reach the bottom theres no doubt about it your to lagged to drive.

[scumdog]

They are a handy thing for 'the next morning' type tests.

But regardless they are no defence if you DO get stopped and end up section 56'd.

Saying "but I tested myself on my gizmo and only got a reading of 320 " just won't cut it with the judge

[Oakie]

Depends what sort of accuracy you need out of it. I bought a couple of $150 units for work. We have a zero tolerance for alcohol at work and have the odd suspect from time to time. Previously we've relied on witness's subjective evaluations and admissions of guilt which is not very satisfactory for either us or the employee. The units are probably not 100% accurate but they will give a reading (or not) which is good enough for us. I did have the pleasure of putting them through an extensive test one weekend at home and got some interesting results which more than anything proved that you should not throw down one for the road as you can get a false positive that way. Wait 20 minutes before driving to avoid a false positive. Also with these units they seem to loose a little accuracy if used twice in quick succession.

If you are just looking for something to give an indication as to your level of intoxication, these $150 to $200 sets will do that but be warned, there is a disclaimer that a negative result on one of these cannot be used as a defense should you have a positive result from the boys in blue. I'd leave a margin for error. A big margin please.

[steve_t]

Oakie, if you use the device 5 times in a row, how much discrepancy is there with the readings?

[SMOKEU]

If you are just looking for something to give an indication as to your level of intoxication, these $150 to $200 sets will do that but be warned, there is a disclaimer that a negative result on one of these cannot be used as a defense should you have a positive result from the boys in blue. I'd leave a margin for error. A big margin please.

Apparently the consumer level breath testers are designed to over read the breath alcohol level so people can't be more drunk than what the device says. How true this is anyones guess.

[Oakie]

Oakie, if you use the device 5 times in a row, how much discrepancy is there with the readings?

Don't know. I only tried it twice in a row quickly a couple of times. What I think it may do is compare 'before' and 'after'. If you then have the second puff a couple of minutes after the first, there may still be a residual from the first puff and then the difference is much less than true. What happened for me is an expected reading at first puff and then a much lower on second puff.

[Oakie]

Apparently the consumer level breath testers are designed to over read the breath alcohol level so people can't be more drunk than what the device says. How true this is anyones guess.

From a business point of view that would make sense as long as the devices weren't being used to get an evidential reading.

[Houseman]

I have a $200 Sobercheck and just use it for fun more than anything. Great fun with a few mates around. Supposed to be one of the more accurate ones available.

One thing it has taught me is those mornings after the big night before - and you sleep on your mates couch - for 4-5 hours to be safe - and you still feel "a bit pissed" riding home the next moring. You are, big styles. I blew 600 after 8 hours sleep once.

Also taught me that you have to be pretty pissed to blow 400 (legal limit) in the first place. Not that I would use that to push the limit, but it takes me about 9 stubbies to get there, no lies. I am 6'3" and fairly fit mind (maraton runner). Everyone is different when it comes to metabolising alcohol.

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

I use one as a pure indication only the next morning at a bike rally, up to me to make the choice... If it registers then I go have a coffee and pie or bit of a feed and wait another couple of hours... usually in no rush to get home...

Not only that I don't drink a hell of a lot any more anyway... so I have had no problem...

[firefighter]

They are a handy thing for 'the next morning' type tests.

But regardless they are no defence if you DO get stopped and end up section 56'd.

Saying "but I tested myself on my gizmo and only got a reading of 320 " just won't cut it with the judge

That's right, which sucks really when you've obviously tried to be responsible. The only time the judge will throw it out is when the person is truly a fuckwitt. Like that bloody Indian prick who got let off because the constable asked him to move his car to the side of the road instead of doing it for him. The judge came up with that too not his lawyer......in my opinion that judge is the guilty one the next time he does it.

[cbfb]

Probably best not to drive at all if you suspect you might be over the limit.

To save the expense of a breath tester, remember what you've had to drink and use the following calculation:

(Volume(ml) x Alcohol(% by volume, ABV)) / 1000 = Alcohol (units)

So if you've had 12 x 330ml bottles of Speight's at 4% ABV, that would be:

(3960 x 4) / 1000 = 15.8 units

Now an hour AFTER you start drinking, your body gets rid of approximately one unit per hour. So if you started drinking at 7pm, at 8pm the alcohol would start to be expelled; 15.8 hours later is when you would be back to '0' (i.e. noon the following day).

There is nothing you can do to speed up this process; food, eating mints, drinking water/coffee, sleeping etc are all myths. Food can slow down initial absorbtion but that's not going to help you.

[Genestho]

Probably best not to drive at all if you suspect you might be over the limit.

Now an hour AFTER you start drinking, your body gets rid of approximately one unit per hour. So if you started drinking at 7pm, at 8pm the alcohol would start to be expelled; 15.8 hours later is when you would be back to '0' (i.e. noon the following day).

There is nothing you can do to speed up this process; food, eating mints, drinking water/coffee, sleeping etc are all myths. Food can slow down initial absorbtion but that's not going to help you.

Well said.
Or keep it simple, the calculation is already on each bottle in the form of (units=) 'standard drinks'.
http://www.alcohol.org.nz/ALAC_Guide...dardDrinks.pdf

[buellbabe]

While at the Buell rally a few weeks back I saw a $15 tester (er...at the liquor store...LOL) and purchased it cos I thought "this will be a larf later today when we are all legged".

Obviously none of us had any intentions of getting on our bikes after drinking, we were all staying put at the camp ground and the wee tester was definately a good party gag.

Anyways I had been steadily drinking all arvo and evening but wasn't trolleyed and "felt ok", I can't remember what the reading was exactly but I know it was borderline...interesting, I reckon I definately would have been over the limit even tho I felt "ok".

Basically we all came to the conclusion that if you wonder whether you are ok to drive/ride then you are NOT. To quote an earlier post 'keep it simple'.

[cbfb]

Well said.
Or keep it simple, the calculation is already on each bottle in the form of (units=) 'standard drinks'.
http://www.alcohol.org.nz/ALAC_Guide...dardDrinks.pdf

No, 'Standard Drinks' are NOT the same as 'Units'.

Example: A 330ml, 5% can of beer contains 1.3 Standard Drinks or 1.65 Units.

It's important to use Units instead of Standard Drinks because as with my earlier example, a twelve pack would be 12 Standard Drinks or 15.8 Units. That 3.8 Units is roughly 4 hour's worth of time you shouldn't be driving.