Drink Driving - Personal Breathalyzer

rebel.ranter

Hi, with the Christmas party season upon us has anyone given consideration to purchasing their own breathalyzer for checking the situation the morning after a skinful of beer?

Like a lot of people on here I need my license for my job (and sanity) & think that this might be worth while.

http://www.alcologic.ie/

Opinions?

owlwink

rebel.ranter wrote: »

Hi, with the Christmas party season upon us has anyone given consideration to purchasing their own breathalyzer for checking the situation the morning after a skinful of beer?

Like a lot of people on here I need my license for my job (and sanity) & think that this might be worth while.

http://www.alcologic.ie/

Opinions?

I always tend to stop drinking around 12 hours before I intend on driving, I have always felt very sketchy about personal breath testers. Maybe someone can throw some light on the situation.

JackFrosty

thought about getting one but decided not to as even if im over the limit the next morning i still have to get to work so id rather not know
an dont bother with the drink drive bull****e comments lads cos i dont drive to or from the pub but like most people i drive to work etc and this morning after crap is a money spinner not a safety thing
sorry for ranting on your thread!!!!!!

owlwink

JackFrosty wrote: »

thought about getting one but decided not to as even if im over the limit the next morning i still have to get to work so id rather not know
an dont bother with the drink drive bull****e comments lads cos i dont drive to or from the pub but like most people i drive to work etc and this morning after crap is a money spinner not a safety thing
sorry for ranting on your thread!!!!!!

nuf said

MagicMarker

JackFrosty wrote: »

thought about getting one but decided not to as even if im over the limit the next morning i still have to get to work so id rather not know
an dont bother with the drink drive bull****e comments lads cos i dont drive to or from the pub but like most people i drive to work etc and this morning after crap is a money spinner not a safety thing
sorry for ranting on your thread!!!!!!

So long as your driving is better than your grammar I couldn't give a fúck what you do.

JackFrosty

why would my grammer bother you

Anan1

JackFrosty wrote: »

and this morning after crap is a money spinner not a safety thing

Whatever you say, Jack.

cianclarke

He has a point. I had to read your post twice..
if i was to type like this constantly without the use of periods commas full stops or capital letters it would get very tedious and difficult to read if you dont have full stops or capitals the whole paragraph becomes a big long sentance that can be irritating

JackFrosty

ah yes, point, taken and understood!!

Scottie99

wouldn't trust them

Henry Ford III

Leave the car at work. Get taxi home and a lift in the next morning.

JackFrosty

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Leave the car at work. Get taxi home and a lift in the next morning.

This is a good idea, but not an easy option for us country folk.

Eoin

I would get one if I thought it was reliable - for €100 it would want to be too.

"Tests show that Alcologics results did not differ by more than 0.001% when tested against the official Irish Gardai breathalyser"

JackFrosty wrote: »

thought about getting one but decided not to as even if im over the limit the next morning i still have to get to work so id rather not know
an dont bother with the drink drive bull****e comments lads cos i dont drive to or from the pub but like most people i drive to work etc and this morning after crap is a money spinner not a safety thing

Daylight doesn't mean instant sobriety, but no doubt I will be told to get off my high horse.

owlwink

At least your safe from a licence suspension on a high horse

BoardsRanger

It seems abit pricey but would be worth it if you regularly drive the next morning after a few drinks the previous night. I have often wondered how long it takes for sobriety after a particularly heavey bender. 1pm? 2pm? who knows!

Eoin

BoardsRanger wrote: »

It seems abit pricey but would be worth it if you regularly drive the next morning after a few drinks the previous night. I have often wondered how long it takes for sobriety after a particularly heavey bender. 12pm, 2pm who knows!

Oh yeah - I would have no problem with the price, but only if it really is a quality kit. Can't find any reviews online for that one yet.

owlwink

BoardsRanger wrote: »

It seems abit pricey but would be worth it if you regularly drive the next morning after a few drinks the previous night. I have often wondered how long it takes for sobriety after a particularly heavey bender. 1pm? 2pm? who knows!

I have heard that it takes about 1 hour per drink consumed to rid your body of the alcohol. So if you have had 5 drinks then it will take 5 hours to fully sober up.

(1 drink = 12 oz. beer = 4 oz glass of wine = 1.5 oz liquor)

Eoin

owlwink wrote: »

I have heard that it takes about 1 hour per drink consumed to rid your body of the alcohol. So if you have had 5 drinks then it will take 5 hours to fully sober up.

(1 drink = 12 oz. beer = 4 oz glass of wine = 1.5 oz liquor)

There are just so many variables though - body weight, food eaten etc that you could easily be a couple of hours out.

JackFrosty

JackFrosty wrote: »

This is a good idea, but not an easy option for us country folk.

The "country" argument does my head in.

If someone is stupid enough to go driving the next day after a heavy session I feel no pity for them if they are caught. In fact, I'm delighted for them because it will mean another extremely careless "driver" off the road.

owlwink

rarnes1 wrote: »

The "country" argument does my head in.

If someone is stupid enough to go driving the next day after a heavy session I feel no pity for them if they are caught. In fact, I'm delighted for them because it will mean another extremely careless "driver" off the road.

I second that...

owlwink

owlwink wrote: »

I have heard that it takes about 1 hour per drink consumed to rid your body of the alcohol. So if you have had 5 drinks then it will take 5 hours to fully sober up.

(1 drink = 12 oz. beer = 4 oz glass of wine = 1.5 oz liquor)

Mate, it takes 1 hour PER UNIT. A pint is 2 units so 10 pints = 20 hours.

The whole next day you are over the limit if you like heavy sessions

BoardsRanger

this info comes from the Alcologic site..

Drink
Brand
Time to leave body

4% beers and ciders Heineken and Guinness 2 hours per pint 250ml – 330ml bottles of 5.5% beerBecks, Bud, and Stella 2 hours per bottle 275ml – 330ml AlcopopsBacardi Breezer Smirnoff ice2 Hours per bottle 35ml shot Spirit Whiskey, Vodka, Bacardi 1.5 hours per drinkA70ml double isWhiskey, Vodka, Bacardi3 hours per drink250ml Glass of Wine (15% alcohol )Wine 4 Hours per drink
Consider this:

Drink 5 pints of Heineken and you can’t drive for at least 10 hours from finishing your last pint. If you finish at midnight, you aren’t safe until after 10AM the next day.

Drink four 70ml double of spirits you can’t drive for 13 hours – that’s 1pm the next day if you drank your last double at midnight.

Drink just three 250ml glasses of wine - and you can’t drive for 13 hours - 1pm the next day if you finish at midnight.

So an average male might finish drinking at 2am and have 8-10 pints and some shorts - according to the above that writes off driving for nearly all the next day!

owlwink

rarnes1 wrote: »

Mate, it takes 1 hour PER UNIT. A pint is 2 units so 10 pints = 20 hours.

The whole next day you are over the limit if you like heavy sessions

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055442019

owlwink

owlwink wrote: »

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055442019

lol

owlwink

rarnes1 wrote: »

lol

:rolleyes:

Eoin

BoardsRanger wrote: »

this info comes from the Alcologic site..

So an average male might finish drinking at 2am and have 8-10 pints and some shorts - according to the above that writes off driving for nearly all the next day!

I'm nearly tempted to buy one just to test some of those figures out! Does more body weight mean that it takes more or less time to sober up?

owlwink wrote: »

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055442019

rarnes1 wrote: »

lol

owlwink wrote: »

:rolleyes:

Fascinating stuff.

Eoin

LIGHTNING wrote: »

http://www.parkers.co.uk/News/News/Cheap-Breathalysers/

None of them seem to be any where near the same price range as the one linked to in this thread.

yayamark

JackFrosty wrote: »

thought about getting one but decided not to as even if im over the limit the next morning i still have to get to work so id rather not know
an dont bother with the drink drive bull****e comments lads cos i dont drive to or from the pub but like most people i drive to work etc and this morning after crap is a money spinner not a safety thing
sorry for ranting on your thread!!!!!!

Can you please explain what is the money spinner here?

owlwink

eoin wrote: »

None of them seem to be any where near the same price range as the one linked to in this thread.

If I was to get one I would be really iffy about getting a cheap one.

Eoin

owlwink wrote: »

If I was to get one I would be really iffy about getting a cheap one.

Nah, looks like they're not worth a shìte. Like I said, I'd definitely get one for 100, but only if it was accurate and not just an expensive drinking game.

owlwink

eoin wrote: »

Nah, looks like they're not worth a shìte. Like I said, I'd definitely get one for 100, but only if it was accurate and not just an expensive drinking game.

Thoughts drift towards car scene in Superbad.:D

cashmni1

Everyone should know their limits and a bit of common sense should also be considered.
If you have 10 pints and shots, of course your not able to drive at 8am. (or for most of the next day either)

No 2 people are the same, a bad hangover usually constitutes a lot of alcohol in your system - go figure.

As for the country thing "annoying" another poster, can you tell me how, in a country (outside the capital) that there is very little public transport, is the op going to get to work?

And no, I do not agree with using that as an excuse either, but it is a very real problem that is affecting rural life, fact.

While I do not think the morning after bagging in a money making racket, it is a nanny state now. And its a balls!!

owlwink

cashmni1 wrote: »

Everyone should know their limits and a bit of common sense should also be considered.
If you have 10 pints and shots, of course your not able to drive at 8am. (or for most of the next day either)

No 2 people are the same, a bad hangover usually constitutes a lot of alcohol in your system - go figure.

As for the country thing "annoying" another poster, can you tell me how, in a country (outside the capital) that there is very little public transport, is the op going to get to work?

And no, I do not agree with using that as an excuse either, but it is a very real problem that is affecting rural life, fact.

While I do not think the morning after bagging in a money making racket, it is a nanny state now. And its a balls!!

Road Death Stats also indicate that it's not working...

Anan1

cashmni1 wrote: »

As for the country thing "annoying" another poster, can you tell me how, in a country (outside the capital) that there is very little public transport, is the op going to get to work?

And no, I do not agree with using that as an excuse either, but it is a very real problem that is affecting rural life, fact.

Which, drinking or not being allowed to drive drunk?

Eoin

cashmni1 wrote: »

As for the country thing "annoying" another poster, can you tell me how, in a country (outside the capital) that there is very little public transport, is the op going to get to work?

And no, I do not agree with using that as an excuse either, but it is a very real problem that is affecting rural life, fact.

This is so crazy, it might just work - drink less / stop drinking earlier on a work night.

cashmni1 wrote: »

While I do not think the morning after bagging in a money making racket, it is a nanny state now. And its a balls!!

To me, Nanny State means protecting people from themselves, not from others.

cashmni1

Anan1 wrote: »

Which, drinking or not being allowed to drive drunk?

That made me laugh. I needed that.
Anyway, the problem is transport availability.

Maybe we should have drink driving school for those who can't drive drunk properly. They could add it to the test.

owlwink

cashmni1 wrote: »

That made me laugh. I needed that.
Anyway, the problem is transport availability.

Maybe we should have drink driving school for those who can't drive drunk properly. They could add it to the test.

I can already see the massive waiting lists.

At least it would be less stressfull

JackFrosty

Just to make it clear, i do not agree with drink driving!
Anyone who gets drunk in a pub, Then gets into their car and drives it should be banned from driving.
Now ive never seen anyone get outa bed drunk the morning after the night before!
yes you may be over the limit but does that really make you unfit to drive?
Some people maybe but surely not everyone, its not possible as we are all built different.

BoardsRanger

eoin wrote: »

I'm nearly tempted to buy one just to test some of those figures out!

I am also tempted. if i do get one il test it against the Garda device ( few friends in traffic corp) and post the results although i am not sure if the garda roadside breathalyzer gives a reading rather than just a traffic light system.

BoardsRanger

JackFrosty wrote: »

Now ive never seen anyone get outa bed drunk the morning after the night before!

I usually see two .. when i look in the mirror!:D

owlwink

JackFrosty wrote: »

Just to make it clear, i do not agree with drink driving!
Anyone who gets drunk in a pub, Then gets into their car and drives it should be banned from driving.
Now ive never seen anyone get outa bed drunk the morning after the night before!
yes you may be over the limit but does that really make you unfit to drive?
Some people maybe but surely not everyone, its not possible as we are all built different.

I have woken up drunk before...

owlwink

BoardsRanger wrote: »

I am also tempted. if i do get one il test it against the Garda device ( few friends in traffic corp) and post the results although i am not sure if the garda roadside breathalyzer gives a reading rather than just a traffic light system.

They give a reading. I was tested last week and I asked the garda could I see the screen.

JackFrosty

What sort of reading is on the screen?

Eoin

JackFrosty wrote: »

Now ive never seen anyone get outa bed drunk the morning after the night before!
yes you may be over the limit but does that really make you unfit to drive?
Some people maybe but surely not everyone, its not possible as we are all built different.

I certainly have seen people drunk the next day - as I said earlier, daylight doesn't mean you are sober. Just because you're not giddy and jumping around like the night before doesn't mean that you're OK to drive.

BoardsRanger wrote: »

I am also tempted. if i do get one il test it against the Garda device ( few friends in traffic corp) and post the results although i am not sure if the garda roadside breathalyzer gives a reading rather than just a traffic light system.

That would be interesting - last time I was breathalysed, I could see the readout. I'd just be worried that these things can do more harm than good by giving a false sense of security.

owlwink

JackFrosty wrote: »

What sort of reading is on the screen?

It just said 0.0 and then said NONE on the right hand side. I assume this is alcohol content.

Randomswinger

BoardsRanger wrote: »

this info comes from the Alcologic site..



So an average male might finish drinking at 2am and have 8-10 pints and some shorts - according to the above that writes off driving for nearly all the next day!

By that logic you don't process any alcohal until you finish your last pint. Ever wonder what you're doing every time you have a p*ss in the pub?

owlwink

Randomswinger wrote: »

By that logic you don't process any alcohal until you finish your last pint. Ever wonder what you're doing every time you have a p*ss in the pub?

The stats available arealways really vague.

BoardsRanger

Randomswinger wrote: »

By that logic you don't process any alcohal until you finish your last pint. Ever wonder what you're doing every time you have a p*ss in the pub?

Did i say processing only begins at 2am? no. Obviously the breakdown of alcohol begins during the first drink!

JackFrosty

so it is possible to have a few and be fit to drive the morning after

OldmanMondeo

JackFrosty wrote: »

yes you may be over the limit but does that really make you unfit to drive?

Yes, the answer is in the question.

As for the Country thing, I live 40 miles from work, they is "public" transport available if I want to leave the house 2 hours after I get home from work. So for me the answer is simple, I don't realy on these Breath testers, I tend stop drinking after 2 or 3 pints and no later than 10pm, school night and all that.

rebel.ranter

Just for the record I don't condone drink driving. The intention was not to have one of these devices in the car to check myself after having two pints & then drive on.
It was specifically for those morning after (or mid-afternoon after) driving moments. I have read/heard stories where people have been over the limit after lunch time from the night before.
I had a heavy night out one particular night over this summer (June Bank Holiday weekend I think) and & drove the car at about 7pm the next evening, I was still tired. I came upon a Garda checkpoint, even though it was 7pm the next day I was bricking it. OK I passed, it was also the first breathalyser test I had done too, and I've been driving nearly 17 years.

The reason I specifically looked at this unit (Alcologic) is because it is not a cheap EBay one & they offer a calibration service. Local Pharmacies will be stocking them too. Surely that alone puts it ahead of anything on EBay? Remember even the Garda ones are followed up with a blood/urine samples, they are only "indicator" tools.

I do take the point on getting a false sense of security from these things but look at it from another point of view, if you use it & it tells you that you are still over the limit & therefore prevents you from driving then surely that's a good thing? That would be the intented use, i.e. not tot use it as a "green" light but as a "red" light.