Alcohol Breathalyser: Definition and Applications

An alcohol breathalyser is a device that many use to conduct a breath alcohol test. It has sensors that allow it to measure the Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) levels of individuals.  Police officers commonly do these tests to make sure that the driver in question can still legally drive. The device measures the BAC using the deep lung breath samples provided when the individual blows into the mouthpiece. The level of BAC can then be used to determine the amount of alcohol present in the system and whether they can legally drive or not.

For most drivers, a BAC of less than 0.05% is required. However, others may require lower BAC levels to avoid breaking the legal limit. Surpassing these limits could be considered an office that is punishable by law. Drink driving causes many accidents, resulting in injuries and fatalities. Hence, police officers conduct tests as a deterrent and to prevent such accidents. This article will present information on breathalysers, the BAC, and the applications for such devices.

What Is an Alcohol Breathalyser?

An alcohol breathalyser is a device that measures the BAC levels of individuals. Many use them for personal, medical, workplace, or law enforcement purposes. There are professional-grade devices that employers and police officers use for testing. There are also personal devices that people can buy online or in physical stores. These are commonly lightweight and portable devices with batteries that allow for multiple uses.

Breathalysers are typically equipped with either semiconductor or fuel cell sensors, which enable the measurement. Semiconductor sensors use a tin oxide compound that reacts upon contact with ethanol. However, it can be affected by other products and produce false positives. Meanwhile, a fuel cell sensor only reacts to ethanol. This makes it more reliable for testing. However, it may cost more in comparison.

To use one, the person must place a clean mouthpiece. Then, they should turn it on and allow the device to warm up. Once it is ready, they should continuously blow into the mouthpiece to provide the needed samples. The device will signal when the user can stop. Afterwards, it will only take a few seconds to display the result.

Understanding the BAC Before Using an Alcohol Breathalyser

A common indicator of the intoxication levels of an individual is their BAC level. Although some people may experience different effects, it remains true that a higher BAC means higher levels of intoxication and possibly significant impairment. For example, a BAC of 0.01% to 0.05% could mean that an individual might have mild speech, memory, awareness, coordination, and balance impairments. Meanwhile, a BAC of 0.06% to 0.15% could mean that the person should experience moderate impairments to all motor functions, drastically affecting the ability to drive and have an increased risk of injury even when not driving.

Despite being more accurate, blood testing is inconvenient and invasive, especially for police officers who are constantly on the move. Meanwhile, an alcohol breathalyser is compact and is about the size of a walkie-talkie. This allows individuals to always have it with them. The other common methods for testing are urine, saliva, and hair tests. These all have different detection windows, and some can be used to detect drugs as well.

Moreover, drivers must remember the legal limits when operating a vehicle. For most drivers, the limit is 0.05%. However, it can be lower for special cases, such as those with probationary licenses, public transport drivers, truck drivers, and those with previous Driving Under the Influence (DUI) charges.

Applications of Alcohol Breathalysers

With alcohol usage on the rise, companies are also using workplace breathalysers. These devices help monitor the sobriety of employees within the office. It also ensures that they are following the policy of the company regarding alcohol use. An alcohol breathalyser can drastically affect the safety and productivity of the workplace. Hence, identifying those employees who are struggling with alcohol abuse is crucial for maintaining health and safety.

Police officers also use breathalysers when conducting roadside tests. In particular, the portable devices they use are commonly equipped with professional-grade fuel cell sensors to ensure accurate readings. Using this, they can accurately identify drivers who are surpassing the legal limit. They can use this as a basis to conduct further tests and possibly convict the driver.

The higher the BAC level the driver has, the greater the consequences. Heftier fines, licence suspensions, and impounded cars are all consequences of having a high BAC. Repeated DUI offences and their severe punishments can all be prevented by using machines like BACtrack breathalysers to help individuals monitor whether they can legally drive or not.