Shocked (Breathalyzers)

fred funk }{

I bought one of those Alcologic breathalyzers before Christmas. I was shocked at the amount of alcohol that I could consume and still be well under the limit. I always thought (because of the media) that I would be over the limit after two pints but I have learned that I can actually drink a lot more and still be under the limit.

I was out the other night and I had six pints, I started at 9.00PM and finished about 1.30AM, I tested myself About 2.30 when I got home and the reading was 0.035 which is under the limit. I'm not a small fella, about 16st but I was still shocked. I didn't feel like I would have been able to drive safely.

I have tested myself numerous times over the holidays and it definitely appears that I can drink alot of alcohol and still drive without the fear of getting caught.

Do these things encourage drink driving?

Alanstrainor

But you have to ask yourself, How accurate is this breathalyser, i'd hazard a guess and say not very.

Guy:Incognito

fred funk }{ wrote: »

I bought one of those Alcologic breathalyzers before Christmas. I was shocked at the amount of alcohol that I could consume and still be well under the limit. I always thought (because of the media) that I would be over the limit after two pints but I have learned that I can actually drink a lot more and still be under the limit.

I was out the other night and I had six pints, I started at 9.00PM and finished about 1.30AM, I tested myself About 2.30 when I got home and the reading was 0.035 which is under the limit. I'm not a small fella, about 16st but I was still shocked. I didn't feel like I would have been able to drive safely.

I have tested myself numerous times over the holidays and it definitely appears that I can drink alot of alcohol and still drive without the fear of getting caught.

Do these things encourage drink driving?

9.00 - 2.30 is 5 and a half hours so up to 3 pints will be gone from your system anyway by then. So as a reasonably heavy (or maybe your tall aswell, but i assume that would help with tolerance too) guy your only really dealign with 3 pints. A 12 stone guy and 3 pints might well be a different story.

cormie

Would your "tolerance level" have any effect on how under/over the limit you are? How soon after drinking can it give an accurate reading? As a non drinker it's not something I have to worry about, if I did have a sup I wouldn't have a clue what's legal and what's not..

fred funk }{

These are suppose to be fairly accurate but I take your point. I got one because I don't live in Dublin but I socialise there, so there's a lot of hanging around the next day waiting to go home after the previous nights session.

fred funk }{

cormie wrote: »

How soon after drinking can it give an accurate reading? As a non drinker it's not something I have to worry about, if I did have a sup I wouldn't have a clue what's legal and what's not..

20 minutes after your last drink.

Guy:Incognito

cormie wrote: »

if I did have a sup I wouldn't have a clue what's legal and what's not..

That would be why the "zero alcohol" approach is best practice.

AugustusMaximus

I just wouldn't risk it.

Even after a bottle of beer I'd be hesitant to drive and would only do so if necessary.

unkel

The limits you read about in the media should be valid for everyone, so they are very safe limits

In practice, the blood alcohol level depends on many factors such as your weight and your sex and some people just metabolise alcohol quicker than others

I've seen indications that those Alcologic breathalyzers are fairly accurate, anyone got any links?

DISCLAIMER: the only way you know for sure you are not over the limit is by not drinking!

Ciaran500

Stekelly wrote: »

9.00 - 2.30 is 5 and a half hours so up to 3 pints will be gone from your system anyway by then.

3 pints is 6 units, that wouldn't be out of your system in 5.5 hours.

jaffa20

I want one Where do you get one of these that is accurate and reasonably priced?

romperstomper

Stekelly wrote: »

That would be why the "zero alcohol" approach is best practice.

only after you:

relabel every single product in the market place that has ANY alcohol in it (medicine, mouthwash etc as well)

keep jumping to extremes though, seems like you have a talent for it.

wouldn't trust any device outside of the officially used one TBH.
furthermore if there is more 'scope' for drinking and driving within the current regulations, but we don't do it as we're too scared/conscious of the affect it would have on our driving, then I can only assume that people recognise that its not right

Guy:Incognito

romperstomper wrote: »

only after you:

relabel every single product in the market place that has ANY alcohol in it (medicine, mouthwash etc as well)

keep jumping to extremes though, seems like you have a talent for it.

wouldn't trust any device outside of the officially used one TBH.
furthermore if there is more 'scope' for drinking and driving within the current regulations, but we don't do it as we're too scared/conscious of the affect it would have on our driving, then I can only assume that people recognise that its not right

I meant drinking no alcohol is the best practice not having the limit set to absolute zero.

fred funk }{

AugustusMaximus wrote: »

I just wouldn't risk it.

Even after a bottle of beer I'd be hesitant to drive and would only do so if necessary.

I agree, my job depends on it.

Just to add, one of my points is that I felt that I wouldn't be capable of driving even though the unit told me I was under the limit, so will that encourage others who wouldn't have chanced it before to now drive because they know they're under the limit.

Matt Simis

fred funk }{ wrote: »

I was out the other night and I had six pints, I started at 9.00PM and finished about 1.30AM, I tested myself About 2.30 when I got home and the reading was 0.035 which is under the limit. I'm not a small fella, about 16st but I was still shocked. I didn't feel like I would have been able to drive safely.

I have tested myself numerous times over the holidays and it definitely appears that I can drink alot of alcohol and still drive without the fear of getting caught.

fred funk }{ wrote: »

Do these things encourage drink driving?

Seems like you answered your own question.
Im of the opinion that I dont drink at all if Im the driver, not for fear of getting caught DUI, but rather I find any alcohol gets in the way of speeding.. :eek:

romperstomper

anyone who reads something on an internet forum and is then encouraged into drink driving would need to be clinically insane and therefore banned from driving by definition

orlyice

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

this may apply

cianclarke

I've always used a fairly safe rule of thumb - don't drink if you're going to drive that night, not a drop.. Has proven quite safe so far. :-) Also a very good excuse if you're just not in the mood - now that it's no longer PC to drink & drive, people won't push you if they know you're driving. It's great...
I'd quite like to test myself after a few drinks to see how close to / over the limit I am all the same, personally after two pints (stout) or one bottle (500ml) I'd rather not be behind the wheel. I'd imagine it'd be relatively safe, but I still wouldn't like even slightly impaired judgment.

unkel

orlyice wrote: »

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

this may apply

Don't bother reading that, anyone. They've tested a bunch of cheap breathalysers (as in £3.99 cheap) bought on ebay. Surprise, surprise, they don't work...

Eoin

orlyice wrote: »

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

this may apply

It doesn't really. Those look like yokes you'd get in a Christmas cracker. The one linked to in the OP seems to be a bit more accurate.

fred funk }{

eoin wrote: »

It doesn't really. Those look like yokes you'd get in a Christmas cracker. The one linked to in the OP seems to be a bit more accurate.

Ye these have a cleaning facility for the sensor and it heats the sensor before testing, i.e its not one of those cheapo ebay testers.

I should have posted the link earlier http://www.alcologic.ie/

The Alcologic breathalyzer brand is fully owned and distributed by MTC healthcare Ltd – Irelands leading drug and alcohol testing company. We supply state of the art drug and alcohol testing technologies, DNA testing and Laboratory services to organisations throughout Ireland including Occupational Health companies, Safety Critical Workplaces, GP’s, Rehabilitation clinics, Solicitors, Pharmacies and even the Health Service Executive (HSE).

Our commitment in providing cutting edge, accurate and reliable toxicology products and services to industry has not been lost in our development of Alcologic. Now established as the leading brand of breathalyzer in Ireland you can be assured that Alcologic comes from good pedigree.

Accuracy data :

Accuracy: + or – 0.01% BAC. this means that a result of 0.05% BAC may actually be 0.04% or 0.06%
Independently tested by a UKAS accredited device testing facility as well as tested for accuracy against the official hand held Gardai breathalyser. Tests show that Alcologics results did not differ by more than 0.001% when tested against the official Irish Gardai breathalyser
Approved by the U.S. department of Transportation
Alcologic is CE marked

jaffa20

hmm 89euro isn't bad for something that is as accurate as the gardai's equipment. It's especially safe for the morning after drinking cos it's always hard to know if alcohol is out of your system.

Steve

I'd definitely get one of these if I thought they were accurate, I've seen them on sale in a few places.

I very rarely touch a drop if I'm driving, max I'd have would be 2 Heino shandys or similar, it's more for the morning after a session I'd get it.

It would be an interesting test to take it on a night out and record the reading every half hour to see how the alcohol affects you - although, from watching some of the cop shows, you're meant to wait 30 minutes after the last drink before testing so maybe it wouldn't be practical.

S.I.R

fred funk }{ wrote: »

I bought one of those Alcologic breathalyzers before Christmas. I was shocked at the amount of alcohol that I could consume and still be well under the limit. I always thought (because of the media) that I would be over the limit after two pints but I have learned that I can actually drink a lot more and still be under the limit.

I was out the other night and I had six pints, I started at 9.00PM and finished about 1.30AM, I tested myself About 2.30 when I got home and the reading was 0.035 which is under the limit. I'm not a small fella, about 16st but I was still shocked. I didn't feel like I would have been able to drive safely.

I have tested myself numerous times over the holidays and it definitely appears that I can drink alot of alcohol and still drive without the fear of getting caught.

Do these things encourage drink driving?

i can put 4 pints away in 3 hours and still be under the limit, wouldn't drive still.... my mentality wouldn't be the same, even after 1 pint id walk...


wouldn't risk it for a biscuit

jaffa20

Oh der 50euro on ebay too. Well 59euro if you if can't wait

http://cgi.ebay.ie/Alcologic-Personal-Breathalyser_W0QQitemZ190277078546QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Gadgets?hash=item190277078546&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1301%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

Keith186

I heard a story from somebody about one of his mates who had 3 pints (started about 17.30) then had his dinner at home, went back to the pub and had another 6 pints. He was walking home and met a Garda he knew who was doing a checkpoint and got talking to him, this was at 01.30.

Long story short he breathalysed him and he was under the limit on the official Garda breathalyser. The whole lot of them were shocked after 9 pints that he was under the limit.

I have to say it's not worth the risk drink driving because of the ban, most people would be screwed.

It's easy enough to drive after a skinful once you don't have any dutch courage, just take it handy but it really isn't worth the risk.

jaffa20

Keith186 wrote: »

I heard a story from somebody about one of his mates who had 3 pints (started about 17.30) then had his dinner at home, went back to the pub and had another 6 pints. He was walking home and met a Garda he knew who was doing a checkpoint and got talking to him, this was at 01.30.

Long story short he breathalysed him and he was under the limit on the official Garda breathalyser. The whole lot of them were shocked after 9 pints that he was under the limit.

I have to say it's not worth the risk drink driving because of the ban, most people would be screwed.

It's easy enough to drive after a skinful once you don't have any dutch courage, just take it handy but it really isn't worth the risk.

Well that just really shows that all breathalyzers are a load of shoite. Bring back the walk in a straight line test

Eoin

jaffa20 wrote: »

Oh der 50euro on ebay too. Well 59euro if you if can't wait

http://cgi.ebay.ie/Alcologic-Personal-Breathalyser_W0QQitemZ190277078546QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Gadgets?hash=item190277078546&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1301%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

I'm tempted!

I am not a small guy, but sometimes I feel a bit merry with just a couple of pints after a long day in the office. I would most likely be legally under the limit, but I know my reaction time would be greatly impaired. I just don't bother having anything to drink when I am driving, but it's the day after that would be my worry.

Random

Stekelly wrote: »

That would be why the "zero alcohol" approach is best practice.

What is the zero alcohol approach? How much is zero alcohol?

if I have 1 pint tonight and drive in the morning, is that zero?
If I have a couple of pints today and drive tomorrow evening, is that zero?

Or do you just mean don't drink full stop, ever ?

Eoin

Random wrote: »

What is the zero alcohol approach? How much is zero alcohol?

if I have 1 pint tonight and drive in the morning, is that zero?
If I have a couple of pints today and drive tomorrow evening, is that zero?

Or do you just mean don't drink full stop, ever ?

I imagine he means that if you are going out that night, don't have anything to drink if you are driving home. Unless you are just being pedantic?

Holsten

Interesting thread...

I might actually get one of these for the morning after.

Like others have said, even if I wasn't over the limit after so many drinks, not a chance in hell I'd still drive.

L1011

Ciaran500 wrote: »

3 pints is 6 units, that wouldn't be out of your system in 5.5 hours.

I thought your body could metabolise about 1 'unit' an hour, e.g. 6 units would be near as well out in 5.5 hours?

I've been under the limit on an Alcologic and felt entirely unsafe to drive - although that could also have been tiredness seeing as it was 3:30am at the time.

oleras

jaffa20 wrote: »

Oh der 50euro on ebay too. Well 59euro if you if can't wait

http://cgi.ebay.ie/Alcologic-Personal-Breathalyser_W0QQitemZ190277078546QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Gadgets?hash=item190277078546&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1301%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

Was supposed to get one of these before xmas, forgot. Thanks for reminding me. I will get some data for ye in the next week or two. :pac:

Caliden

I can see something like this happening:

http://www.tuckermax.com/archives/print/the_famous_sush.phtml

Run_to_da_hills

You are playing russian roulette with any of the cheaper models You need to purchase the exact same model that the Gardai use.

drunkdaz

unkel wrote: »

some people just metabolise alcohol quicker than others

I thought medical opinion (Well I've definitely seen this on TV a few times, so its got to be true......:rolleyes:) was that the rate at which people metabolise alcohol is fairly constant, as it is a process of the liver alone.
That is while you could possibly have a "fit" liver (giving at most a negible difference), your weight or size will have no effect. Up to a point you can drink (absrob) more if you have a higher body water content to dilute the alcohol (weight, more muscle versus fat), but once you are full you are full..... Then you are relying on your liver.

That means everybody will need the same amount of sleep to process the alochol.

Ciaran500 wrote: »

3 pints is 6 units, that wouldn't be out of your system in 5.5 hours.

Before I could serve alcohol in NSW I had to take a government education course. It taught that a man could drink 2 standard drinks in the first hour, and then one standard drink for every susequent hour, and remain under their lower drink driving limit (.05). I think theres 1.5 standard drinks in a pint of Guiness, so he had 9. NSW says you could have had 7 standard drinks in that time, so if you're big enough to absorb a bit more, you probably would be under our higher limit.... If you should drive though is a totally differnt thing tho...

I remember finding it an interesting approach, more pragmatic then that in Europe. That said I suppose its difficult to hail a cab in the outback....

Guy:Incognito

eoin wrote: »

. Unless you are just being pedantic?

I think he very much is.

Darragh29

unkel wrote: »

The limits you read about in the media should be valid for everyone, so they are very safe limits

In practice, the blood alcohol level depends on many factors such as your weight and your sex and some people just metabolise alcohol quicker than others

I've seen indications that those Alcologic breathalyzers are fairly accurate, anyone got any links?

DISCLAIMER: the only way you know for sure you are not over the limit is by not drinking!

If you think about this for a minute, an across the board limit, clearly favours some people and doesn't favour others. I'd probably be in the same situation as the OP, well built and carrrying a few extra pounds. I did this experiment before years ago when I was a student, there used to be this machine on the pub wall and you could throw in 1 pound and get a reading and at the time I remembered being fairly drunk and being under the limit at the time...

If I have 3 pints over say 2-3 hours, I'm noticibly giddier, merrier, and defo shouldn't be driving a car, but I'm probably under the limit.

If a 9 stone girl has the same amount of alcohol within the same timeframe, she is probably in the same situation as myself, maybe somewhat more drunk than I am...

The thing is, both of us are unfit to drive but only one of us is probably in breach of the law. If the two of us got into two separate car and were breathalyzed and I passed and she failed, you could well understand her being aggrived, leaving aside for a moment, the obvious argument that neither of us should have been driving in the first place, and lets face it, if we all respected that logic, there would be no need for breathalyzers and a legal alcohol limit.

The limit should be expressed as a function of body weight, like: 0.8 g/alcohol per 10Kg mass of body weight. Then you would have to weigh a person before breathalyzing them but I do think it would be more fair and would also effectively lower the limit for folks like myself who could drink 4-5 pints over the night and be under the limit.

unkel

drunkdaz wrote: »

I thought medical opinion (Well I've definitely seen this on TV a few times, so its got to be true......:rolleyes:) was that the rate at which people metabolise alcohol is fairly constant, as it is a process of the liver alone.

It is fairly standard and only a function of time. But some people just metabolise quicker or slower than the norm (which applies to most people independent of weight or sex). At least that's what I've read a few times.

unkel

S.I.R wrote: »

i can put 4 pints away in 3 hours and still be under the limit, wouldn't drive still

Just as well you wouldn't drive because you are 16 and you don't have a driving license.

Steve

Darragh29 wrote: »

The limit should be expressed as a function of body weight, like: 0.8 g/alcohol per 10Kg mass of body weight. Then you would have to weigh a person before breathalyzing them but I do think it would be more fair and would also effectively lower the limit for folks like myself who could drink 4-5 pints over the night and be under the limit.

I don't agree with that. The level of alcohol in your bloodstream is what affects your ability to drive.
IMO, a person with a bigger mass has more storage space for the alcohol in their body and therefore it will be more diluted than in the smaller person.
The metabolism rate will still be the same as the liver will filter the alcohol at the same rate.
Think of it like mixing paint: If you get a 5 litre and a 10 litre bucket of white paint and pour the same measure of blue paint into each, it will have a lesser effect on the colour of the larger tub. In this case, the darker the colour the less you are able to drive.
Does that make sense?

mumblin deaf ro

Darragh29 wrote: »

If you think about this for a minute, an across the board limit, clearly favours some people and doesn't favour others. I'd probably be in the same situation as the OP, well built and carrrying a few extra pounds. I did this experiment before years ago when I was a student, there used to be this machine on the pub wall and you could throw in 1 pound and get a reading and at the time I remembered being fairly drunk and being under the limit at the time...

If I have 3 pints over say 2-3 hours, I'm noticibly giddier, merrier, and defo shouldn't be driving a car, but I'm probably under the limit.

If a 9 stone girl has the same amount of alcohol within the same timeframe, she is probably in the same situation as myself, maybe somewhat more drunk than I am...

The thing is, both of us are unfit to drive but only one of us is probably in breach of the law. If the two of us got into two separate car and were breathalyzed and I passed and she failed, you could well understand her being aggrived, leaving aside for a moment, the obvious argument that neither of us should have been driving in the first place, and lets face it, if we all respected that logic, there would be no need for breathalyzers and a legal alcohol limit.

The limit should be expressed as a function of body weight, like: 0.8 g/alcohol per 10Kg mass of body weight. Then you would have to weigh a person before breathalyzing them but I do think it would be more fair and would also effectively lower the limit for folks like myself who could drink 4-5 pints over the night and be under the limit.

Your weight/tolerance will determine the rate at which you metabolize the alcohol and therefore the concentration of alcohol relative to blood in your system. The 'acceptable no of pints' or whatever you want to call it is just a rule of thumb and not a reliable guide. Strictly speaking, the important thing is not how much alcohol you consume but how much is in your system when you get behind the wheel. In your example, you would be able to get behind the wheel sooner than the girl as you are larger and more experienced at metabolizing alcohol.

I never drink alcohol if I am driving later that day and generally follow the adage '12 hours between bottle and throttle' when deciding when to drive the next day, making allowances for the amount consumed of course.

Eoin

unkel wrote: »

Just as well you wouldn't drive because you are 16 and you don't have a driving license.

So, shouldn't even be drinking at all!