Many people indulge in alcohol consumption to help them relax. In Australia, it is a part of the social and cultural norm that has shaped the country for decades. In addition, some people spend time outside work at a club or bar to unwind. Although alcohol consumption is widespread, excessive intake leads to many undesirable outcomes. For example, the short-term effects of alcohol are impairments in your senses, cognition, and motor functions. Specifically, a high alcohol level can affect your ability to drive a vehicle safely. Because of this, alcohol-impaired driving results in road accidents and fatalities. Therefore, some people use a personal breathalyzer to check their Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) before driving. In addition, some places have coin operated breathalyzer machines to let their customers quickly check their BAC level.
Many people go to bars or clubs to hang out with friends or colleagues where alcohol is abundant. As a responsible means to serve alcohol, many establishments put coin operated breathalyzer machines for their patrons. So even without a personal breathalyzer, customers can still check their BAC level to be safe. Unlike a personal portable device like BACtrack, a coin operated breathalyzer is a countertop or wall-mounted machine for quick and easy use. It is common in restaurants, sports bars, and clubs. For instance, staff help checks their customer’s BAC levels before letting them drive a vehicle. Determining the BAC before driving has helped reduce the number of road accidents.
Coin Operated Breathalyzer Machines: Information on Alcohol Limit
Australia has a legal limit of 0.05% BAC. The BAC is the amount of alcohol in the bloodstream, and it is an indicator of how intoxicated a person is. It is the weight of alcohol in grams for every 100ml of blood or 210L of breath. So, for instance, if coin operated breathalyzer machines display a 0.05% or higher, it means that you have reached the legal limit. Driving at this alcohol level is prohibited, or you will be subject to criminal penalties in Australia. In addition, Australia implements stricter laws and more checkpoints to reduce drink driving. Police officers conduct roadside screening to random or suspected impaired drivers. For example, they will ask you to blow into a breathalyzer to measure your alcohol level. Depending on your intoxication, you can face the following drink driving penalties:
- On-the-spot license suspension minimum of three months
- Penalty notice or court-imposed fines
- Prison sentence
- Automatic disqualification
- Alcohol interlock order
What are Breathalyzer Machines?
A breathalyzer is a testing device using semiconductor or fuel cell sensors to measure the alcohol content in the breath. In particular, most BACtrack devices at Breathalysers Australia use fuel cell sensor technology to measure the BAC level accurately. Fuel cell sensors rely on an electrochemical process to oxidise alcohol. When alcohol comes in contact with the platinum fuel cell sensors, it produces small electrical currents. The electrical currents generated is proportional to the alcohol concentration in the blood. On the other hand, coin operated breathalyzer machines also use fuel cell sensors to determine the BAC level. However, you need to put in the required money or amount to activate the sensors to use the machine.
Features of Coin Operated Breathalyzer
Coin operated breathalyzer machines are bigger than a typical portable breathalyzer. They are designed to provide accurate BAC readings for public use. A coin operated breathalyzer has a coin or push-button operation to activate the sensors. First, you need to put money in the coin acceptor to start the machine. Then, a countdown timer will initiate as the sensors warm up. The sensors can last up to 1,000 tests before needing replacement. Wait for the timer to reach zero before giving a breath sample. Next, take a clean straw and provide a solid blow to the mouth-hole. Finally, the device analyses the breath sample and displays the BAC results on the screen.
In addition, coin operated breathalyzer machines have the following features:
- Coin or Push-button operation – Push button is ideal for workplace use, while coin operation is ideal for venues.
- Fuel cell sensor accuracy – must be Australian Standard AS 3547 Certified
- Large LCD Screen – The screen can display instructions, and some units can display advertisements
- Replaceable sensor module – The sensor is easy to replace. The sensor module allows for easy maintenance without taking the whole machine back.
- Straw Dispenser
Coin Operated Breathalyzers Machine: Alcohol Effects on the Body
Different BAC levels have varied impairments on the body. However, no alcohol content is a safe level for driving. Intoxication starts as soon as alcohol enters the body, and the effects can be apparent within a few minutes. The person may feel a slight mood elevation or euphoria at a low or medium level. However, high alcohol concentration leads to severe impairment such as blurry vision, decreased hearing, slurred speech, and slow reaction time. It also results in uncoordinated movements and poor balance, which are high risks in driving. Knowing how alcohol works affect your BAC is critical in moderating your intake. You can monitor your alcohol level every time you go out through coin operated breathalyzer machines. Similarly, you may take a personal device like BACtrack breathalyzer to conveniently measure your BAC. The BACtrack fuel cell breathalyzers have police-grade accuracy, the same technology in roadside screenings.
Breathalyzers at Breathalysers Australia
Breathalysers Australia has been consistently servicing millions of consumers and industries nationwide with reliable alcohol breath tests. BACtrack features a wide range of alcohol testers suitable for personal and workplace use. In particular, the keychain alcohol testers are the smallest devices ideal for personal and at-home use. Additionally, the smartphone BACtrack breathalyzers have Bluetooth connectivity to pair with a smartphone wirelessly. You may view your BAC results directly on your phone’s screen through the app. You can also take advantage of the ZeroLine technology in the app, which quickly estimates when your BAC level will return to 0.00%. The BACtrack breathalyzers provide accurate BAC readings as police or coin operated breathalyzer machines.
Finally, the Pro series features the BACtrack S80 Pro, Mobile Pro, Trace and Scout using Xtend fuel cell sensor technology. The fuel cell sensor has a linear response to trace alcohol concentration from 0.00-0.400% BAC. Therefore, the breathalyzers can accurately measure alcohol content at low and high BAC ranges. Furthermore, they have FDA approval and DOT certification, meeting the federal requirements for a safe alcohol screening device. Lastly, they have a one-touch operation system allowing you to conduct a breath test efficiently. Therefore, you can trust the BACtrack professional breathalyzers to give you the precise BAC tests whenever you need them. It is best to secure a BACtrack breathalyzer, especially if no coin operated breathalyzer machines are available. Having a breathalyzer can save you from the perils of drink driving.
