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So I ordered a breathalyzerFollow

#1 Apr 19 2012 at 9:01 PM Rating: Decent
No, I haven't had any "driving home while probably not safe" escapades in a long time, thank you very much. But we were playing with one on Sunday after the beer festival (when we walked over to the sushi restaurant and hung out eating nigiri until a few people in our group officially hit 0.0) and I decided I wanted one.

I was surprised they were even for sale. I thought they were like, professional equipment. I guess the $200 ones that are admissible in court are, but I ordered a $30 one instead.

What was really surprising was that even after chugging beer samples for almost three hours, my BAC was a mere .02. There was one pretty wasted dude in our group who was .1 (he was driven home by his girlfriend), and my drinking buddy was only reading as .04, which also surprised her. My husband was a mere .01 when it reached him, but he's a lightweight and fell asleep for an hour in between beers for a while there. He was one of the drivers once we were stuffed with sushi and he was fully sober again.

Various countries in Europe, such as Finland, have discussed making them standard features in cars.

Has anyone else ever had a breathalyzer done on them, or played with one? Or owns one?

Edit: Correction on BAC numbers.

Edited, Apr 20th 2012 11:48am by catwho
#2 Apr 19 2012 at 9:17 PM Rating: Good
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Yes, yes, and no. It's fun and games until you realize that no amount of sanitation and replacement nozzles will erase the fact that someone, at some point, threw up on it.
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#3 Apr 19 2012 at 9:21 PM Rating: Good
The one we were playing with didn't have a nozzle, just a little patch you blew into. The one I ordered has a nozzle and NO ONE BUT ME SHALL TOUCH.

And if I do vomit, eh, I probably didn't need to use it anyway to know I needed a cab.
#4 Apr 20 2012 at 12:13 AM Rating: Good
I've never used one, or had one used on me. Does sound like it could be kind of fun though. Not for the purpose of finding out if you are safe to drive or not, but for curiosity's sake to find out how much booze it takes you to get legally drunk.
#5 Apr 20 2012 at 12:42 AM Rating: Excellent
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catwho wrote:
What was really surprising was that even after chugging beer samples for almost three hours, my BAC was a mere .02.
This brings up my problem with home breathalysers. How can you be sure it's calibrated correctly? I mean, unless you're also ordering gasses pre-measured to .080 BAC equivalent and testing it(or mailing it off to be tested at a cost equivalent to what you're paying for a new one right now), I really worry that it'll lead to overconfidence and tragic results.

Edit: Also, this is worrisome.
Quote:
Depending on usage, units may require more frequent calibration service. For example, subjects should always wait at least 15 to 20 minutes after eating or drinking before blowing into the tester. If a subject blows too soon after eating or drinking, this can damage the sensor and/or require an immediate recalibration.


Edited, Apr 20th 2012 12:47am by Poldaran
#6 Apr 20 2012 at 3:05 AM Rating: Good
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I'd like to know what you blow one hour after you stopped drinking, two hours after, and hourly thereafter for at least 8 hours. My bet is your BAC would peak some... hmm...just guessing...4 to 6 hours after your last drink.
#7 Apr 20 2012 at 4:13 AM Rating: Good
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Aripyanfar wrote:
I'd like to know what you blow one hour after you stopped drinking, two hours after, and hourly thereafter for at least 8 hours. My bet is your BAC would peak some... hmm...just guessing...4 to 6 hours after your last drink.
I beleive, and this is only from taking outdated Safe Serving classes, that you peak at 30 minutes.
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#8 Apr 20 2012 at 7:51 AM Rating: Good
Quote:
What was really surprising was that even after chugging beer samples for almost three hours, my BAC was a mere .02. There was one pretty wasted dude in our group who was 1.0 (he was driven home by his girlfriend)


Where to, a morgue?

Your gadget blows.
#9 Apr 20 2012 at 8:16 AM Rating: Decent
Kavekk wrote:
Quote:
What was really surprising was that even after chugging beer samples for almost three hours, my BAC was a mere .02. There was one pretty wasted dude in our group who was 1.0 (he was driven home by his girlfriend)


Where to, a morgue?

Your gadget blows.


No, I'm just terrible at numbers. That was supposed to be .1
#10 Apr 20 2012 at 8:26 AM Rating: Excellent
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This thread reminds me of something else I already read.
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#11 Apr 20 2012 at 2:46 PM Rating: Good
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I determine my blood alcohol level the old fashioned way: by titrating a plasma sample with potassium dichromate
#12 Apr 20 2012 at 2:51 PM Rating: Good
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Considering the fact that I have never gotten drunk in my life, and that I am the lightest lightweight ever, I doubt I will ever see the occasion where I would blow into one.

Besides, I'll drink half a wine cooler and I can be asleep in 20 minutes. Give me a shot of tequila or vodka and you'll see me giggly for about 10 minutes before I start drinking ice water. And that's my limit.
#13 Apr 20 2012 at 3:37 PM Rating: Good
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Aripyanfar wrote:
I'd like to know what you blow one hour after you stopped drinking, two hours after, and hourly thereafter for at least 8 hours. My bet is your BAC would peak some... hmm...just guessing...4 to 6 hours after your last drink.


If your BAC is peaking 4-6 hours after your last drink, you've been drinking way too much way too fast. Like fatally too much.
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#14 Apr 20 2012 at 5:07 PM Rating: Decent
Thumbelyna wrote:
Considering the fact that I have never gotten drunk in my life, and that I am the lightest lightweight ever, I doubt I will ever see the occasion where I would blow into one.

Besides, I'll drink half a wine cooler and I can be asleep in 20 minutes. Give me a shot of tequila or vodka and you'll see me giggly for about 10 minutes before I start drinking ice water. And that's my limit.


I know at least two other people of Filipino descent who are the same way. Must not be a culture of big drinkers?
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